OTC Medicines

Over-the-counter medicines are easier to compare than their packaging suggests. Most shelves hold a few active ingredients sold under many brand names and at many prices, so I review by ingredient first and brand second. Each page checks the Drug Facts label for the active ingredient and strength, the age limits, how long you can safely use it, and the interactions worth knowing about.

The hub is grouped by problem: cold, cough and allergy; skin, foot and nail; digestive; pain relief; eye, mouth and sleep; and motion sickness. A store brand with the same active ingredient and dose is usually a fair swap for the name brand. Read the label every time, ask a pharmacist if you take prescription medicines, and see a doctor if symptoms last longer than the label allows.