In reviewing studies that looked at whether people could read OTC drug labels, FDA found one in which a significant number of people 60 and older could not read the print on some labels because the letter width was too compressed and the letter height too short. Another study showed that people had to have eyesight much better than normal to read most labels on 25 OTC drugs. The Pharmacists Planning Service Inc., Sausalito, Calif., petitioned FDA in the early 1990s to adopt standards for print size and style on OTC drug labels, stating that most people can't read the small print on some labels. But about 2,000 words are required if aspirin is added to a cough-cold medicine that also contains a cough suppressant, a nasal decongestant, and an expectorant. Some people assume if a drug is OTC, it's 100 percent safe.
All drugs pose risk.
And risk increases with improper use. If people have questions after reading the label, they should talk to their doctor, pharmacist, or other health-care professional. Medicine misuse also can occur when important labeling information is difficult to find, says FDA's Bowen. A person allergic to an ingredient in a drug product needs to know whether the product contains it. Although active ingredients are usually listed on OTC drug products, current rules don't require labels for all drugs to list inactive ingredients.