A few manufacturers have been given until 2004 to phase in the changes. About 100,000 drugs, from cough medicines and itch creams to highly potent pain relievers and heartburn medicines, are sold without a prescription. Children and the elderly are at the highest risk, said Dr. Robert Shesser , chairman of George Washington University Hospital's emergency department. And people with hypertension need to consult their doctors before taking a decongestant containing pseudoephedrine, because that medicine can raise their blood pressure. Even reading and measuring out the right dosage can be a challenge.
Studies show parents have a hard time making the right dosage for small children.
Some drugs even require cutting tablets in half for children. The new labels aim to ease confusion. Many features of the FDA rule are very similar to our recommendations. Medical Correspondent Eileen O'Connor and The Associated Press contributed to this report. Pages will open in a new browser window External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.