How to read a drug label

According to a Harris Poll conducted for the National Council on Patient Information and Education (NCPIE), only 44 percent of consumers check the label of an over-the-counter medication for the active ingredient and far fewer, only about 20 percent, look for dosage information or possible side effects. "There's a major information gap" says William Soller, Ph.D., clinical professor of pharmacy and executive director of the Center for Consumer Self Care at the University of California at San Francisco. Here's how to get up to speed in five easy steps. 

Step 1: Check active ingredients. That way you know exactly what you're getting. With so many products on the shelves, you can no longer buy just by brand or symptom. And you can save bucks by choosing cheaper generics with the same key ingredient. 

Step 2: Avoid multi-symptom products. Those tend to contain extra ingredients that you don't need and that might even trigger unwanted side effects. For example, if you just have a stuffy nose, you don't really need the cough-suppressing or pain-relieving ingredients in DayQuil Cold and Flu. 

Step 3: Read warnings and check side effects. If you're about to go to bed, you don't want to treat a stuffy nose with a decongestant containing pseudoephedrine (Sudafed and generic) because it can cause nervousness and sleeplessness. 

Step 4: Follow directions exactly. According to a 2008 survey on OTC drugs conducted for the NCPIE, about one in five Americans take more than the recommended dose. About as many take drugs more often than directed. "Taking two of something doesn't necessarily make the effect bigger," Soller says. Never alter a dose or frequency without consulting your doctor or pharmacist first. And always use the cup that comes with the product, a measuring spoon, or some other precise measuring device. (No, kitchen spoons don't work just as well!) This is especially important when you're giving medicine to children, who should only take products formulated for their weight and age. If dosing instructions aren't clear, ask your pharmacist. 

Step 5: Check the expiration date. Toss any out-of-date drugs.

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This article first appeared in the April 2010 issue of ShopSmart. 

—Aaron Bailey