Health

Find The Best Over-The-Counter Drug For You

BOSTON (WBZ) ― We have all wandered the aisles of a drug store searching for the right over-the-counter medicine to relieve symptoms of everything from a cold to heartburn, but the choices can be overwhelming. The American Pharmacists Association recently surveyed 5,000 of its members to find out which brands they recommend most. Here are some of their top choices.

For seasonal allergies, pharmacists like Claritin-D. Unlike other anti-histamines, they say it's less likely to make you drowsy. For a stuffy nose, the pharmacists like Sudafed. The active ingredient shrinks swollen blood vessels around your nose and sinuses, but pharmacist Dave Hairhoger says there are some people who should avoid it, "those who have high blood pressure problems, those who have glaucoma, or if there's a problem with prostate enlargement."

For the common tension headache, more pharmacists recommend Tylenol. They say it's not as hard on the stomach as ibuprofen or aspirin. But Tylenol, or acetaminophen, can be tough on your liver, so take only the recommended dose and watch what else you take. "You want to make sure you limit your alcohol intake while on Tylenol," explained pharmacist Gino Cordisco.

For heartburn help, the pharmacists like Prilosec. It reduces stomach acid, but not right away. "It's something that takes two or three days to work," explained Hairhoger. If you need something right away, you'd be better off with Tums or another fast-acting acid-neutralizer.

If you've got someone in the family who gets car sick, don't forget the Dramamine. Motion sickness comes from the mixed signals your brain gets; you're standing still, but you're still moving. Dramamine quiets those signals and helps ease nausea.

For cold sores, pharmacists recommend Abreva, but you need to use it early. "You need to apply it as soon as you feel it tingling," explained Cordisco. "Once the cold sore appears, it's too late."

With Poison Ivy or Poison Oak, be sure to wash all the plant oil off your skin then, pharmacists say, treat the itch with Cortaid.

And to stop a yeast infection more pharmacists chose Monistat. "I recommend the three day course, it's the simplest and works as well as a seven day course of therapy," said Hairhoger.

Remember, pharmacists say over-the-counter products do have their limits. "They're meant to be used for just a two to three week period. If the patient continues to have problems, they should really talk to their doctor," Hairhoger warned.

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