You’re sick. Red, runny nose, sinus congestion and a headache that just won’t quit. You need relief, now! You stop by the store to pick up an over the counter (OTC) cold medicine. There are so many to choose from—Tylenol, Sudafed, Nyquil—the list goes on. You pick one and hope for some fast comfort. But what exactly did you buy? Are you sure that it’s safe to use?

Do you know what you’re taking?
The use of OTC drugs to treat simple ailments is at an all-time high, with roughly 81% of adults using this form of treatment as a first line of defense. And why not? If a person is sick, get the fastest and cheapest option to gain a reprieve from symptoms. Many doctors also agree that using OTC medicines first is a good action plan for minor illnesses. And while this all might bring some relief, there could be an unknown danger lurking inside that medicine box.

Is it completely safe?
A recent survey found that nearly 55% of Americans are taking a prescribed medication. With medical conditions on the rise (diabetes, heart disease, etc.) that number will continue to grow. When you overlap this percentage with the number of people using OTC medicines you see a staggering amount of people taking two types of medication.
This is a problem. Most people don’t know that OTC medications can have dangerous, even fatal, interactions with prescribed medications. The truth is, too many people don’t know what interactions are harmful, and what’s worse, don’t know where to find that information to protect themselves. The outcome of mixing medications, even innocent OTC meds, can be disastrous.

There is a solution!
With the rise of OTC drug use alongside prescription medications it has become imperative to know what medicine interactions will be harmless or harmful. Apps like MyRxProfile take the danger and guess work out of taking medicine. Created by an expert pharmacist with years of experience, The MyRxProfile app helps patients prevent harmful side effects caused by mixing the wrong medications.
With a little knowledge and the help of MyRxProfile, dangerous, adverse drug interactions can be avoided, and health maintained.