OTC, Herbal Medications/Dietary Supplements

Question 1

Common OTC Drugs

Answer 1

Cold medication

Pain medication

GI medication

Topical steroids

Smoking cessation

Question 2

Herbal Medications/ Dietary Supplements

• Very popular; no ____(1)_______.
• Yet they can have _______(2)______ and ______(3)______ with other medications.
• Many have NO _______(4)_______ and have not been _____(5)____.

Answer 2

1. prescription needed
2. side effects
3. interact
4. proof of effectiveness
5. researched

Question 3

Potential Dangers:

• People feel that these OTC and herbal medications are _____(1)___.
• People _____(2)_____.
• People mix these with other medications without _____(3)___!
• Herbal meds are not FDA approved, so no labels are required (_____(4)______).
• Some can be very _____(5)____ to children, pregnant women or if breastfeeding.

Answer 3

1. completely safe
2. self prescribe
3. fear
4. nutritional supplements
5. toxic

Question 4

Information

OTC drugs- check the ____(1)_____ or package insert, Physican’s Desk Reference (PDR)

Herbal medications- Difficult to find good _____(2)______ information- may not have been studied; much information based on limited _____(3)_____

Answer 4

1. label
2. research
3. evidence

Question 5

Aloe Vera

Uses

Answer 5

• Topical wound healing- good for burns
• Orally as a laxative

Question 6

Aloe Vera

S/E

Answer 6

• Diarrhea, kidney damage, abdominal pain or skin rash

Question 7

Aloe Vera

Interactions with some:

Answer 7

• heart medications
• diurectics
• steroids

Question 8

Echinacea

Known as the “_______”

(c-china-cea)

Answer 8

natural antibiotic

Question 9

Echinacea

Uses

Answer 9

• antiviral (for influenza)

Question 10

Echinacea

S/E

Answer 10

• liver toxicity
• skin rash

Question 11

Echinacea

Interacts with:

Answer 11

• steroids
• fungal medications
• cancer medications

Question 12

Ginko Biloba

Uses

Answer 12

• stimulates the brain
• dissolves clots
• vertigo

Question 13

Ginko Biloba

S/E

Answer 13

• stomach upset
• HA (headache)
• bleeding

Question 14

Ginko Biloba

Interacts with

Answer 14

• ASA
• NSAIDS
• heparin/Coumadin
• antidepressants

Question 16

Ginseng

Use

Answer 16

• stimulant
• analgesic

Question 17

Ginseng

S/E

Answer 17

• HTN (increases)
• diarrhea
• nervousness
• HA (headache)
• insomnia
• bleeding

Question 18

Ginseng

Interacts with:

Answer 18

• heparin/Coumadin
• ASA
• NSAIDS

Question 19

Kava Kava

Uses

Answer 19

• anxiety
• stress

Question 20

Kava Kava

S/E

Answer 20

• enlargement of pupils

Question 21

Kava Kava

Interacts with

Answer 21

• alcohol
• psych drugs

Question 22

St. John’s Wort

Uses

Answer 22

• depression

Question 23

St. John’s Wort

S/E

Answer 23

• GI upset
• dizziness
• confusion
• dry mouth

Question 24

St. John’s Wort

Interacts with

Answer 24

• psycho drugs
• certain foods! (huge list)

Question 25

Saw Palmetto

Uses

Answer 25

• enlarged prostate (shrinks it)

Question 26

Saw Palmetto

S/E

Answer 26

• GI upset

Question 27

Saw Palmetto

Interacts with

Answer 27

• contraceptives
• estrogen (which is probablu OK as it’s used for men)

Question 28

Valerian

(val-er-ian)

Uses

Answer 28

• restlessness
• muscle pain

Question 29

Valerian

(val-er-ian)

S/E

Answer 29

• CNS depression

Question 30

Valerian

(val-er-ian)

Characteristics

Answer 30

• tastes and smells terrible

Question 31

Grapefruit

How it interacts with MANY medications

Answer 31

• Grapefruit “uses up” an enzyme needed to metabolize many medications
• If taken with grapefruit, some meds can be toxic levels