5 Over-The-Counter Medicines You Should Never Take Together

Just because a drug can be bought without a prescription, doesn’t mean it comes without risk – especially if you take multiple medications at the same time. Even if you pay attention to labels, you may not spot potential problems, such as two medications with the same active ingredient. Here’s a list of five common combinations that should be avoided, and some safer alternatives to relieve your symptoms.

1. Tylenol and multi-symptom cold medicines
Many cough, cold and flu combos already contain acetaminophen to relieve sore throats, headaches and fevers. So if you take Tylenol on top of that—which is also acetaminophen—you might exceed the 4-gram (g) daily upper limit for this drug. Too much acetaminophen can cause severe liver damage.

2. Any combo of ibuprofen, naproxen and aspirin
Brand names like Advil, Aleve and Bayer fall into a class called non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs). Because they work using the same underlying pathways, taking more than one boosts your risk of side effects, ranging from mild nausea to severe gastrointestinal bleeding.

Instead of taking them together, try one drug at a time, spaced out according to the directions on the bottle.

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3. Antihistamines and motion-sickness medications
Allergy meds like Benadryl and nausea treatments like Dramamine have similar active ingredients. And a combination of diphenhydramine—which treats sniffles, red eyes and sneezing—and dimenhydrinate—which eases motion sickness—can add up to excess drowsiness.

Instead, look for a non-drowsy motion-sickness formula containing the active ingredient meclizine.

4. Anti-diarrheal medicine and calcium supplements
Products such as Imodium contain loperamide and tame the trots, and calcium firms your stool. So combine them, and you can stop up your system.

Give calcium pills a rest until your bowel problems subside.

5. St. John’s wort and cough medicine
The herbal supplement St. John’s wort claims to ease anxiety and depression. But pairing it with dextromethorphan, a cough suppressant, may trigger a dangerous condition called serotonin syndrome, which causes sweating, feelings of confusion and discomfort, trouble controlling your movements, and in rare cases, even death.

When in doubt about the effects of medication combinations, don’t be afraid to ask a pharmacist, either in-person or over the phone.

Curated Article and Photo Credit from Men’s Health

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