As per Pharmacy Times, 9 out of 10 Americans rely on over the counter meds for a variety of illnesses and symptoms so it’s safe to say that it’s a really common practice to just go to the drugstore and grab what you need.
It’s pretty common for people to think that OTC products are not dangerous or harmful and that you can’t overdose on them.
However, many are not aware that some of these meds can be hazardous to one’s health when taken in high quantities.
Board-certified family physician, Laura Purdy, explains that “OTC medicines are safe generally, but problems can occur if someone’s taking them while on prescription medications.”
Brandi Cole, a pharmacist and nutritionist at Persona Nutrition also shared that “Even with a drug or a supplement facts panel on the back of the box, often consumers are unaware that a single ingredient’s duplicated across multiple products. These duplications can add up to a higher daily dosage quicker than a consumer may have intended, resulting in bothersome side-effects and some rare cases, toxicity.”
With that being said, here are some of the most popular over the counter medications you might be taking too much of!
Tylenol
Acetaminophen is an active ingredient in one of the most popular pain relief medications in the United States – Tylenol.
After all, it is able to reduce fever and provides pain relief from arthritis, toothaches and headaches.
But you should know not to take more than 3,000 milligrams of acetaminophen per day and you should take even less if you are over the age of 65!
According to the National Institutes of Health, more than 7,000 milligrams can cause really serious health problems and could lead to an overdose.
Not only that but Acetaminophen in high doses can really damage the liver which could lead to you needing a transplant or even losing your life.
Benadryl
The FDA has warned that diphenhydramine, which is an active, anti-allergy ingredient in Benadryl, can cause real harm when exceeding the recommended dosage of 200 to 300 milligrams a day.
Everyday Health reports that there are side effects such as vomiting, severe drowsiness, ringing in the ears, rapid heart rate, blurred vision, confusion and even hallucinations and seizures!
Excedrin/Anacin/Midol
All of these popular medications contain caffeine so if you already drink coffee and also take these pills, you might find that you’re going well above the recommended daily intake of 400 milligrams of caffeine.

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