SLEEP ALL NIGHT

Over-the-counter, also known as OTC, may refer to:

• Over-the-counter drug — medicine that may be sold without a prescription and without a visit to a prescriber (ie. doctor, dentist, vet), in contrast to prescription drugs. In some countries (eg. Australia) consultation is required with trained pharmacy staff or a pharmacist to ensure safe and efficacious use of medications. Over-the-counter medications are not appropriate for all people

Over-the-counter (OTC) drugs are medicines that may be sold directly to a consumer without a prescription from a health care professional, as compared to prescription drugs, which may only be sold to consumers possessing a valid prescription. In many countries, OTC drugs are selected by a regulatory agency to ensure that they are ingredients that are safe and effective when used without a physician’s care. It is important to note that OTC drugs are regulated as ingredients, not final products. By doing so governments allow manufacturers freedom to formulate ingredients, or combinations of ingredients, into proprietary mixtures.

The term over-the-counter may be somewhat counter-intuitive, since, in many countries, these drugs are often located on the shelves of stores like any other packaged product.

• In contrast, prescription drugs are almost always literally passed over a counter from the pharmacist to the customer
• Some drugs may be legally classified as over-the-counter (i.e. no prescription is required), but may only be dispensed by a pharmacy employee after an assessment of the patient’s needs and/or the provision of patient education
• In many countries, a number of OTC drugs are available in establishments without a pharmacy, such as general stores, supermarkets, gas stations, etc.
• Regulations detailing the establishments where drugs may be sold, who is authorized to dispense them, and whether a prescription is required vary considerably from country to country

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved over-the-counter (OTC) sleep medications to help relieve occasional sleeplessness in people ages 12 and older. Most OTC products sold as nighttime sleep aids contain an antihistamine, such as doxylamine (including brand names Nighttime Sleep Aid, Unisom Sleeptabs) or diphenhydramine (including brand names Benadryl, Compoz, Nytol and Sominex). Antihistamines are used to treat the symptoms of allergies; however, they cause drowsiness and are used to help people sleep.

There are dozens of sleep aid products available on the shelves of pharmacies and supermarkets. Some of these products also contain a pain medication or a cold and cough medication. Choosing the product most appropriate for you can be a challenge.

Before making a decision about which OTC preparation to use, talk to your healthcare provider, family doctor, or pharmacist, especially if you are taking other medications and are concerned about drug interactions. And once you purchase a sleep aid, make sure to read the label carefully. All OTC medications are required to list side effects and precautions for using the medication.

Watch Video:  Over The Counter Sleep Aid: Learn about the causes of Insomnia and Sleep Deprivation, as well as the most effective over the counter sleep aid you can use for relief.

Last update Dec 24, 2009