Pain Relievers
Advil, Motrin, and Aleve all belong to this category of pain relievers that reduce swelling and inflammation.
What are NSAIDs?
Benadryl works great for sneezing and hives but is famous for making you feel this way.
What is drowsy (sleepy)?
Tums are a quick fix for heartburn because they do this to the acid in your stomach almost immediately.
What is neutralize it?
The label on Tylenol warns against mixing it with this common beverage, because together they can seriously damage your liver.
What is alcohol?
The main reason pharmacists say it's fine to buy the store-brand version of an OTC medication instead of the name brand is because they contain this in the same amount.
What is the same active ingredient?
You should never take more than this many regular-strength Tylenol tablets (325mg each) in a single day to avoid liver damage.
What is 12 tablets (or ~4,000mg)?
When you buy certain cold medicines containing pseudoephedrine, the pharmacist will ask to see this before they hand it over, even though it's not a prescription drug.
What is your ID?
Prilosec OTC and Nexium are not antacids — they prevent heartburn before it starts by reducing how much stomach acid your body makes. They belong to this category.
What are proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) or acid reducers?
Taking two different OTC pain relievers at the same time — like Tylenol and Advil — might seem like it would work better, but it actually increases your risk of this.
What is organ damage or stomach bleeding?
CVS, Walgreens, and Walmart all sell their own versions of Advil — the store brand contains the same medicine but usually costs less. That medicine is called this.
What is ibuprofen?
Doctors recommend this pain reliever — not aspirin or ibuprofen — to bring down a fever in kids.
What is children's Tylenol (acetaminophen)?
Claritin and Zyrtec are popular because unlike older allergy pills, they do this — letting you get through your day without nodding off.
What is non-drowsy?
Pepcid is an OTC heartburn pill that kicks in slower than Tums but lasts longer. It works by blocking a signal your stomach uses to produce this.
What is acid?
This is why it's always important to tell your doctor or pharmacist about any herbal supplements you take — because some, like St. John's Wort, can interfere with how your body processes prescription medications.
What is drug interactions?
Generic drugs may look or taste slightly different from brand-name drugs because companies are allowed to change these non-medicine ingredients like fillers, dyes, and binders.
What is inactive ingredients or excipients?
This pain reliever is not taken orally, but is intead applied topically to treat joint pain.
What is Voltaren (diclofenac)?
Mucinex's job is to do this to the mucus in your chest and sinuses, making it easier to blow your nose or cough it out.
What is thin/loosen the mucus?
Pepto-Bismol is known for its pink color and bubblegum taste, but it can also temporarily turn your stools and tongue this color — which is harmless.
What is black?
Many OTC sleep aids use this antihistamine as their active ingredient — which is why you can feel groggy the next morning.
What is Benadryl (diphenhydramine)?
Before a generic drug hits shelves, the FDA makes sure it works just as well as the brand name. The official term for this requirement is that the two must be this.
What is bioequivalent?
Unlike Advil, which you take every 4–6 hours, one dose of this OTC pain reliever can last up to 12 hours.
What is Aleve (naproxen)?
If you have high blood pressure, your pharmacist may warn you to avoid decongestants like pseudoephedrine because of this unwanted side effect.
Taking acid-reducing medications like Prilosec every single day for a very long time can make it harder for your body to absorb this nutrient, which is important for strong bones.
What is calcium?
This dangerous mistake is easy to make when you take a cold medicine like NyQuil AND a separate pain reliever — because both products may already contain this same ingredient.
What is taking too much Tylenol (acetaminophen)?
Choosing a store-brand generic over the name-brand OTC product can save you anywhere from 20% to 85% — which means on a $20 bottle of Tylenol, you might pay as little as this for the generic.
What is $3-$16?