Don't assume that you are doing the right thing. Be aware of medical conditions that don't mix well with some drugs. For example, people who have high blood pressure, asthma, glaucoma, diabetes, or kidney disease should read labels carefully because some medications contain ingredients that might worsen already existing problems. This means that if a medication says that it may impair motor skills or cause drowsiness, you should not drive or do potentially dangerous tasks until the side effects of the medication have worn off. Some antihistamines, for example, can impair driving performance as much as a blood-alcohol level of 0.05 percent can the common result of a couple of drinks.
Many drugs can become habit-forming if used excessively.
For example, if decongestant nasal sprays are used for more than a few days, nasal tissues can adapt to their presence and then react to their withdrawal by producing symptoms of congestion that mimic those for which the product was originally used. These same effects can be produced when misusing sleeping aids, diet pills, and laxatives. All rights reserved.