OTCs and Prescription Drugs

OTC drugs have six ways of affecting a prescription medication:

• OTC drugs can act additively or synergistically when administered with other drugs.

• OTC drugs can enhance or diminish the absorption of another drug from the gastrointestinal tract.

• OTC drugs can alter the distribution of other drugs.

• OTC drugs can alter the renal excretion or effectiveness of another drug.

• OTC drugs can interfere with or affect the desired effect of another drug.

• OTC drugs can decrease the biotransformation of another drug resulting in increased toxicity.