Medicines In My Home www.fda.gov/medsinmyhome 

Medicines in My Home: www.fda.gov/medsinmyhome

FDA Consumer Medicine Educationwww.fda.gov/usemedicinesafely

National Council on Patient Informwww.bemedwise.org

Medline Plus, NIH: www.medlineplus.gov

Medline Plus, Over-the-Counter Mewww.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/overt

Contact FDA: druginfo@fda.hhs.go

 1-888-INFO-FDA 

More about using me

24 hour Poison Control Cente

Quick in

Doctor’s phone numberPharmacy phone numbe

If someone uses too much medicin

Publication No. (FDA
 Medicines In My Home 

What is over-the-counter medicine? 

A medicine (drug) changes the way your body works or treats or prevents a disease. An over-the-counter (OTC) medicine is the kind you buy without a doctor’s order (prescription). Before you use any medicine, you should always read the label. 

The Drug Facts label 

In the United States, all OTC medicines have a Drug Facts

label. The Drug Facts label is there to help you choose the 

right OTC medicine for you and your problem and to use it safely. All medicines, even OTC medicines, can cause side effects (unwanted or unexpected effects). But if you follow the directions on the label, you can lower your chance of side effects. The Drug Facts label tells you: 

• the ingredients in the medicine• what the medicine is for • if the medicine is right for you and your problem • if there are reasons to talk to your doctor first • how to use your medicine 

On the last two pages of this booklet you can learn about the parts of the Drug Facts label and see a sample. 

Here are some safety tips and medicine facts for you and your family.... 

2 www.fda.gov/medsinmyhome 

1. Talk to your doctor, nurse, or p

have a question about a medicin

2. Keep a record of what you use. 

OTC and prescription medicinesother supplements you use. Give healthcare professionals so theup-to-date and help you use meMedicine Record” at www.fda.g

3. Before you start using somethi

or pharmacist. They can help yosupplements) that don’t mix we

4. Choose a medicine that treats o

Extra medicine won’t help you bunwanted side effects. 

5. Read the label each time befor

matter how well you think you kwhat it is, what it is for, and hohave enough light to see the lab

6. Check the active ingredients in 

medicines. These are the parts medicine that make it work. Dotwo medicines with the same acingredient at the same time, betoo much can hurt you. 

7. Use the medicine dose listed on 

label. Don’t use more. If this dodoesn’t help, talk to your docto

Safer by the 

Tips for using med
 Medicines In My Home 

Tips for using medicines safely 

8. Use medicine only as long as the label says. If you think 

you need the medicine for a longer time, talk to your doctor.

9. Keep medicine in the bottle, box or tube that it came in. 

That will make the directions easy to find. 

10. Keep medicine out of reach and sight of children and pets. 

A locked box, cabinet, or closet is best. 

11. Keep all medicines in a cool, dry place. This helps medicine 

last longer and work better. 

12. If a medicine is past the date on the package, it may not 

work as well. Your local government can help you find the safest way to throw away old medicines while keeping them away from children and pets. 

About prescription medicine 

Don’t use other people’s prescription medicine and don’t share your prescription medicine with anyone else. Use your prescription medicine only as directed. If you think you need a change in your medicine, talk to your doctor. Make sure that your prescription medicines don’t contain the same active ingredients as your OTC medicines. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about the active ingredients in prescription medicines. 

4 www.fda.gov/medsinmyhome 

How to measure liq

Giving medicine 

• Use your child’s weight to find 

medicine on the Drug Facts lab

• If you don’t know your child’s w

age to find the right dose. 

• Never guess a dose. If a dose f

or age is not listed on the label much to use, ask your pharmaci

It is important to measure medicin• Use the measuring spoon, cup, o

the medicine. It will give the m

• If the medicine doesn’t come w

tool, ask for one at the pharmaand cooking may hold the wrong 

• Check the markings to make sur

measure the right dose. 

Most liquid medicines are measured milliliters (mL). 

5 mL = 1 teaspoo15 mL = 3 teaspo30 mL = 1 fluid o
 Medicines In My Home 

Problems OTC medicine can treat 

Pain and fever are two of the most common reasons people use OTC medicines. There are five active ingredients used to reduce fever and to treat mild aches and pains caused by headaches, muscle aches, backaches, toothaches, menstrual cramps, and the common cold: 

• acetaminophen • aspirin • ibuprofen • naproxen sodium • ketoprofen 

The last four active ingredients are all members of a drug family called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs (said EN-saids), for short. OTC medicines can treat or prevent other health problems. Here are some examples: 

• nasal congestion (decongestants) • allergies (antihistamines) • cough (cough suppressants and expectorants) • stomach upset (antacids and acid reducers) • cigarette addiction (nicotine gum, lozenge, or patch) • skin damage from sun (sunscreens) 

People with high blood pressure or heart disease need to talk to their doctor before using these decongestants to treat nasal congestion or a stuffy nose. 

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Active ingredients are safer when The active ingredients in OTC medyou don’t use them as directed on texample, the active ingredients in Omedicines.... 

• Acetaminophen can damage 

you use more than directed. 

• Ibuprofen, naproxen, or ket

kidneys. 

• Children and teenagers shou fever or flu because it may  called Reye’s Syndrome. 

Medicines can have more than one Medicines with more than one activmade to treat more than one problexamples: 

• cold and flu medicines• some allergy medicines• cough and cold medicin

Choose a medicine that treats only Medicine you don’t need won’t help harmful or unwanted side effects. 

More about active 
 Medicines In My Home 

 Read the label each time before you use a medicine.  Be sure it’s right in 5 ways: 

1. the right medicine 2. for the right person 3. in the right amount 4. at the right time 5. in the right way (swallow, 

chew, apply to skin) 

Is it a medicine (drug)? 

 Type of product Is it medicine? Why?Antiperspirant Yes Stops sweat glands from making sweatDeodorant No Just covers up odor of sweat

Mouthwash for plaque and gum disease

Yes

Contains active ingredients that reduce plaque and gum disease

Regular mouthwash No Just makes breath smell better

Dandruff shampoo Yes Treats dandruff and itching

Regular shampoo No Just cleans hairFluoride toothpaste Yes Reduces cavities

Toothpaste without fluoride No Just cleans your teeth

8 www.fda.gov/medsinmyhome 

Are dietary supplements 

medicine

Like over-the-counter medicines, dbe bought off the shelf without a d(prescription). They can come as taliquids, or powders, so they may alsyou take by mouth. But dietary supplements aren’t ODietary supplements are taken by myou eat. Dietary supplements may cherbs, and other ingredients. Dietary supplements have Supplem

Over-the-counter medicines have D

You can read more about dietary sulabels at: www.fda.gov/Food/Dieta

ConsumerInformation/default.htm
 Medicines In My Home 

The Active ingredient/Purpose section tells you about the part of your medicine that makes it work – its name, what it does, and how much is in each pill or teaspoon (5 mL). 

The Uses section tells you the problems the medicine will treat. 

The Warnings section tells you: 

• when you should talk to 

 your doctor first 

• how the medicine might 

make you feel 

• when you should stop 

using the medicine 

• when you shouldn’t use 

the medicine

• things you shouldn’t do 

while using the medicine 

The Inactive In

g

section tells yo

u

the medicine th

a

ingredients. Ina

c

help form a pill, color, or help th

e

longer. 

The Drug 

F

www.fda.gov/medsinmyhome 

gredients

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at aren’t active 

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add flavor or 

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Facts Label