Medications to avoid in conditions (OTC)

Question 1

Asthmatics

Answer 1

• NSAIDs (ibuprofen or aspirin) – may cause asthma attacks in some patients
• Cough suppressants (pholcodine, codeine and dextromethorphan) – suppresses symptoms of asthma attack
• Head lice preparations containing alcohol may cause asthma attacks
• Patients on aminophylline/theophylline should avoid OTC medications containing these (do-do chesteze) – theophylline is a narrow therapeutic range drug

Question 2

Benign prostatic hyperplasia

Answer 2

(May cause more urinary retention)
Antihistamines
- Chlorphenamine
- Promethazine
- Cinnarizine
- Meclozine
- Triprolidine
- Diphenhydramine
- Buclizine
- Doxylamine

Antimuscarinics

• Hyoscine butylbromide
• Hyoscine hydrobromide

Decongestants

• Phenylephrine
• Pseudoephedrine
• Ephedrine

Phenothiazines
- Prochlorperazine maleate

Question 3

Glaucoma

Answer 3

Antihistamines

• Chlorphenamine (Piriton)
• Diphenhydramine (Benylin chesty coughs [Original])
• Promethazine hydrochloride (Sominex)
• Promethazine teoclate (Avomine)
• Triprolidine (Multi-Action Actifed Dry Coughs)
• Buclizine (Migraleve)
• Antazoline (Otrivine antistin eyedrops)

Phenothiazine
- Prochlorperazine (Buccastem M)

Anticholinergics

• Hyoscine hydrobromide (Kwells)
• Hyoscine butylbromide (Buscopan IBS relief)

Corticosteroids

• Beclometasone (Beconase)
• Fluticasone (Pirinase)
• Triamcinolone (Nasacort)