Avoiding Medication Errors More is not always better. One-third
of Americans take more than the recommended dose of over-the-
counter (OTC) medications because they assume it will help them
feel better faster, according to a survey from the National
Council on Patient Information and Education. This is a bad
idea. Taking more will not increase the drug’s effectiveness. It
can also make you feel worse by causing side effects like nausea
and diarrhea. Here are some other mistakes to avoid: - Taking a
second dose too soon. Some drugs don’t take effect right away.
Taking a second dose can make you drowsy. - Combining OTCs.
Products that treat different symptoms, like headache and sore
throat, often contain the same active ingredients. If you take
both, you double the amount of drug in your system. - Not
telling your doctor which OTCs you take on a regular basis. If
your doctor doesn’t know, he may prescribe a drug that may have
an adverse reaction. - Not reading all the directions. Easier to
read new FDA-mandated