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FRIDAY, Jan. 16 (HealthDayNews) -- New and powerful over-the-counter medicines hit the shelves all the time, and many people think these drugs pose no risks because you don't need a prescription to get them.

They're wrong.

Over-the-counter drugs can be as potentially dangerous as prescription medicines, according to the "Be MedWise" public education campaign.

The campaign -- spearheaded by the National Council on Patient Information and Education and recently endorsed by U.S. Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona -- is designed to promote the safe and appropriate use of nonprescription medicines.

"There are a lot of medicines that not too long ago were available only by prescription," says Magaly Rodriguez de Bittner, a pharmacy professor at the University of Maryland, Baltimore. "These are powerful medicines, and because they are powerful people should read the label carefully. Like any other medications, they do have side effects that would come with their overuse or misuse."

Part of the problem, health experts say, is that people often serve as their own doctor and pharmacist when treating ailments.

Americans buy about 5 billion over-the-counter drug products each year to treat routine health problems, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. And consumers "self-treat" four times more often when suffering a health problem than seek out a doctor.

The "Be MedWise" campaign urges consumers to read and follow the label and, when confused, to seek out a pharmacist who can answer questions.

Over-the-counter "doesn't mean throw caution to the wind in terms of your responsibility as a safe drug user," says Lee Rucker, senior vice president at the National Council on Patient Information and Education.

The label will tell you exactly how to take these medicines, and you should be prepared to follow those instructions to the letter, he says.

"We forget these are medicines, too," Rucker says. "We need to regard them with a dose of caution, recognizing that because they are medicines they must be taken exactly as directed."

The "Drug Facts" label included on each medication can help consumers figure out if a particular drug will "interact" with other remedies they are taking.

Drug interactions happen when a drug interferes with another drug. This can alter the way one or both of the drugs act in the body, or cause unexpected side effects. The drugs involved can be prescription medications, over-the-counter medicines, even vitamins and herbal products, according to the National Council on Patient Information and Education.

For instance, both aspirin and blood-thinners such as warfarin -- which is used to protect against a heart attack -- help to prevent blood clots from forming. Taking these drugs together, however, could cause excessive bleeding.

"If they are taking an over-the-counter medicine and prescription medication or dietary or herbal supplement, the easiest way to avoid interactions and replications is by reading the Drug Facts label," Rucker says.

Rodriguez de Bittner offers an example involving new nonprescription antacids that have hit the market like Pepcid or Zantac.

"Because they alter the acidity in your stomach, they may hamper other oral medications from entering your bloodstream," Rodriguez de Bittner says.

Those medications can include antibiotics, blood thinners and heart medications. If that were to happen, the medicine might not work as well -- if at all, the council notes.

An over-the-counter drug could even cause an overdose if taken with other medications that share the same active ingredient. Rucker points out that the very first thing on the Drug Facts label is the active ingredient, and that information should be used to protect your health.

The label also tells you the symptoms the product is supposed to treat, when to stop taking it or see a doctor, and how to store the drug.

If you're still confused after examining the label, you should seek out the help of a pharmacist.

"Here you have in the pharmacist a health-care provider who has been trained about over-the-counter medicines," Rodriguez de Bittner says. "If in doubt, consult the pharmacist. They are a great resource for you."

Pharmacists can be particularly helpful if you're already taking prescription medications. They can compare the over-the-counter drug to what you are currently prescribed and tell you whether it will be safe.

The "Be MedWise" campaign provides a list of questions for pharmacists, including:

• Is this medication safe for me?
• How much should I take and how often?
• How soon should I expect results?
• What possible side effects should I look out for?
• What other medicines should I avoid while taking this?
• How long can I safely use this?
• Can I continue my normal activities while using this?

More information

To learn more about the "Be MedWise" campaign, click here. For more on the safe use of over-the-counter drugs, visit this State of North Carolina Web site.

(SOURCES: Magaly Rodriguez de Bittner, PharmD, CDE, associate professor, School of Pharmacy, University of Maryland, Baltimore; Lee Rucker, senior vice president, National Council on Patient Information and Education, Bethesda, Md.)

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