Treatment for Addiction to OTC Medicines
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy helps modify the patient’s drug-use expectations and behaviors, and effectively manage...
- Contingency management provides vouchers or small cash rewards for positive behaviors such as staying drug-free.
Full Answer
What is the best treatment for OTC drug addiction?
OTC Drug Addiction Treatment. Individual and group therapies, mental health counseling and psychotherapies like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) are all effective treatment methods. Inpatient and outpatient rehab programs allow those recovering from OTC drug addiction the resources to get and stay sober.
Can you get addicted to OTC drugs?
Although less potent than other substances, OTC drugs still pose a risk for developing an addiction. Abusing OTC drugs can lead to health problems including memory loss, kidney failure, heart problems and death. If you or someone you love is struggling with an OTC drug addiction, call a treatment provider for rehab-related help.
What kind of drug is OTC drug abuse?
OTC Drug Abuse. OTC drugs have various medical uses and effects, treating mild pain to motion sickness. Some abuse OTC drugs to self-medicate for mental illnesses like anxiety and depression.
Do you know how to spot an OTC drug addiction?
Learning to spot an OTC drug addiction can be difficult. OTC drugs like Tylenol and various cough medicines don’t carry the same dangerous image as illicit drugs like heroin. People don’t always see them as addictive, so many loved ones of people addicted to OTC drugs don’t know to look for signs of a growing problem.
How is prescription drug abuse treated?
Treatment options for prescription drug abuse vary, depending on the type of drug used and your needs. But counseling, or sometimes psychotherapy, is typically a key part of treatment. Treatment may also require withdrawal (detoxification), addiction medication and recovery support.
Can you get addicted to OTC drugs?
Like illegal and prescription drugs, they can also be abused. Although less potent than other substances, OTC drugs still pose a risk for developing an addiction. Abusing OTC drugs can lead to health problems including memory loss, kidney failure, heart problems and death.
How do over-the-counter OTC drugs and prescription drugs differ?
While certain OTC medications may be recommended by your doctor, they don't require a prescription to purchase. OTC drugs typically treat conditions that are easy to self-diagnose, such as headaches, colds and allergies, and can be purchased at grocery stores, drug stores, convenience stores and supermarkets.
How the use of OTC drugs can interfere with the treatment or prescription of medication for an illness of a patient?
Opposition: Medicines with active ingredients that have opposite effects on your body can interact. This may reduce the effectiveness of 1 or both medicines. For example, OTC decongestants may raise your blood pressure. This can work against (cause opposition to) medicines that lower your blood pressure.
Are OTC pain meds addictive?
You might think that over-the-counter (OTC) drugs wouldn't be addictive since you can buy them at the store without a prescription. However, some OTC medicines can be quite addictive. If you're using them as directed, they are typically safe.
What are the long term effects of OTC drugs?
Chronic, long-term abuse of OTC drugs can also lead to:Memory loss.Heart problems.Kidney damage.Liver damage.Internal stomach bleeding.Increased risk for stroke.Increased risk for high blood pressure.OTC drug addiction.More items...
Why we need to know the difference between over-the-counter and prescription medicine?
Although OTC drugs are available without consulting with a prescriber or pharmacist, the patient needs to be aware these drugs still carry a risk. Some OTC drugs could cause drug interactions with prescription medications or cause more adverse effects.
Who prescribes OTC drugs?
Prescription Drugs and Over-the-Counter (OTC) Drugs: Questions and AnswersPrescribed by a doctor.Bought at a pharmacy.Prescribed for and intended to be used by one person.Regulated by FDA through the New Drug Application (NDA) process.
What is a major disadvantage of using over-the-counter OTC medications?
Health risks of prolonged use of OTC medications can include kidney and liver problems, elevated blood pressure, and even “increase the risk of heart attack or stroke, and cause stomach ulcers or bleeding,” according to the Cleveland Clinic.
What concern do pharmacists have about OTC drug use?
However, there is always a risk involved in using OTC medications. These include improper self-diagnosis, inappropriate dosage, addiction issues upon prolonged use, adverse drug reactions, and drug interactions.
What are the importance of prescription medicines and over-the-counter medicines to human health?
Taking your medicine as prescribed or medication adherence is important for controlling chronic conditions, treating temporary conditions, and overall long-term health and well-being.
Can you get addicted to over-the-counter ibuprofen?
Key takeaways: It is possible to have ibuprofen use disorder, though it is largely unknown if you can develop a physical dependence on it. It is possible to misuse and overdose on ibuprofen.
What are the signs of OTC drug abuse?
Signs of OTC Drug AbuseOvereating or undereating.Gaining or losing large amounts of weight.Sleeping too much or too little.Clumsiness, jerky movements, or slurred speech.
Can you overdose on pain relievers?
While many people may abuse OTC pain relievers to try to deal with their pain out of either desperation or because they are under the mistaken impression that it is safer than abusing prescription painkillers, they can be nearly as dangerous, and in most cases, much more likely to cause an accidental overdose.
Is OTC allergy medicine legal?
OTC allergy medication is definitely among the most popular choices for a legal high, partially because, depending on what kind of medication you buy, you can experience very different effects.
Can you buy over the counter medications without a prescription?
But just because they can be purchased legally without a prescription does not mean that misusing them won’t have dire, even life-threatening consequences.
What are the effects of OTC drugs?
These harmful effects of OTC drugs frequently are compounded when they are combined with alcohol or other drugs.
What are the two stimulants that athletes use to increase their performance?
Ephedrine and Caffeine. Many athletes use a combination of ephedrine and caffeine in order to enhance athletic performance, but these two stimulants can enhance the thermogenic effects of each other; the dangerous spike in body temperature can increase the individual’s risk of suffering from heat stroke.
Can you abuse OTC drugs?
Some people may choose to abuse OTC drugs as opposed to illegal drugs, due to the assumption that if they’re sold at the pharmacy as medication then they must be safe. Contrary to popular belief, OTC drugs can be addictive and life-threatening when misused or abused. Below are some of the most common OTC drugs that people abuse.
How to treat OTC abuse?
Treatment for OTC medication abuse would generally follow the same protocol as treatment for other drugs of abuse, such as prescription medications and illicit drugs. One important consideration is to adjust the treatment protocol to fit the needs of the individual. Since many individuals who abuse OTC medications are young, there are number of adjustments to the care plan that may help to increase the overall effectiveness of treatment.
What is the number to call for addiction treatment?
If your abuse of OTC medications is causing health problems or difficulties in your personal or professional life, call. (888) 966-8152.
How old do you have to be to abuse OTC?
The abuse of over-the-counter (OTC) medications is particularly problematic because a large number of individuals under age 26 abuse these substances, and of course, many OTC drugs are easily obtained. According to an article in the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine, individuals who use over-the-counter medications tend to: ...
What does DEA stand for in drug abuse?
The United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) lists the effects by dosage and separates them by what it terms as “plateaus of abuse.”
Can you abuse OTC medications?
According to an article in the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine, individuals who use over-the-counter medications tend to: Several different categories of OTC medications are prone to abuse. Recreational use of these substances can be habit-forming and potentially destructive if left unchecked.
How often should I use a nicotine patch?
Patients electing to use the patch should be instructed to apply the patch to a dry, clean, hairless area on the upper body or upper part of the arm at about the same time each day. 13 The application site for the patch should be rotated daily, with each site being used only once per week to avoid skin irritation. After use, a slight redness at the site of the patch may occur. If erythema persists for more than four days, or if swelling or a rash develops at the site, the patient should be told to discontinue use of the patch and contact a health care provider. Use of the product should also be discontinued and medical attention sought if palpitations occur, or if the patient develops symptoms of nicotine toxicity (i.e., nausea, vomiting, dizziness, diarrhea, sweating, or weakness). Other adverse effects, which are uncommon but seem to be unique to the transdermal patch, include insomnia, headache, and vivid or troublesome dreams. These problems seem to be associated with the continuous release of nicotine. If these problems are encountered and are intolerable, the patient should be counseled to use an alternative form of NRT.
When was nicotine gum first approved?
Nicotine Gum: Nicotine gum was the first FDA-approved form of NRT. It was approved in 1984 as a prescription item and in 1996 as an OTC product.12 Nicotine gum is a resin complex of polacrilin and nicotine in a sugarless chewing-gum base.15 The product is available in two dosage strengths: 2 and 4 mg.
What is OTC medication?
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, over-the-counter (OTC) medications are medicines that can be sold directly to people without a prescription. The availability of these drugs can provide quick and easy treatment for certain ailments, but if you use them incorrectly, they can be dangerous. Here are some of the long-term effects of over-the-counter medication abuse.
What are the signs of addiction to OTC drugs?
Mood swings, changes in physical appearance, and a decline in work or school performance are also key indicators that someone may have an addiction as a result of OTC drug abuse.
What happens if you take more than the recommended dose of OTC?
If someone takes more than the recommended dose for OTC drugs, “they will need higher and higher doses of a drug to get symptom relief, which may increase the risk for side effects,” Christine Cheng, PharmD, clinical pharmacist at First Databank, tells WebMD Connect to Care. “This can happen, for example, with OTC sleep aids, antacids, and laxatives,” Cheng says.
Does OTC affect long term use?
Long-term OTC drug abuse doesn’t just affect the person using the drug, it can also affect those around them.
Can over the counter drugs become habit forming?
"Many OTC medicines can become habit-forming when not taken as instructed, particularly when taken over extended periods of time or in larger doses than they should be taken.”
