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CNN Live At Daybreak

Over the Counter Cold Remedies

Aired December 30, 2003 - 06:53   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Chances are you or someone in your family is fighting off a cold or soon will be. And most people turn to over the counter remedies for relief. But these medicines can have serious consequences if not taken properly.
Dr. Sandra Fryhofer is here with more.

How big of a problem is this?

DR. SANDRA FRYHOFER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, these medications are real popular, Carol. There are about 100, over 100,000 different over the counter medications and a lot of people are taking them. About 51 percent of people not only take an over the counter, but also take a prescription medication. But almost half of the people in a recent poll admitted that they're not taking these medications properly. They're either taking them too often or taking too much at one time. And if the active ingredient is something like acetaminophen, this can be a disaster.

Acetaminophen is very hard on the liver. It can cause liver toxicity if taken in too high a dose. If you have something like hepatitis, it increases your risk. But even regular moderate drinking, that's only three drinks per day on a regular basis, can greatly increase your risk of liver problems with these over the counters.

COSTELLO: And by drinking, you mean combining alcohol with these medications?

FRYHOFER: Yes, alcohol. And a drink would be considered a glass of wine, a bottle of beer or a shot of liquor. So if you're regularly drinking three of those a day and you're taking too much acetaminophen, you could really get into some trouble.

COSTELLO: Ooh, that's scary.

What about combining medications like taking the Tylenol with the Alka Seltzer?

FRYHOFER: Well, OK, let's say you have a cold so you get a combination cold preparation. And then you have some menstrual cramps, so you'll take one of these, either acetaminophen or an ibuprofen. Let's say you have a little bit of shoulder pain from taking down that Christmas tree and so you add a naproxen and you've got a little indigestion or heartburn from overeating at the -- during the holidays, well, without realizing it, you may have double dosed or triple dosed yourself with analgesics or anti-inflammatories. And with these anti-inflammatories, this is another big problem. They're extremely hard on the stomach. They can eat a hole in your stomach. They can cause an ulcer. Also, they can cause kidney problems and liver problems, as well.

COSTELLO: oh, well, it's a simple question, you know, what can you do to avoid the danger? You read the directions on the back of the box.

FRYHOFER: You know, you're exactly right. The directions are there. The FDA has really been, has mandated that the directions be clear and they also have mandated that they be big enough to read. So you want to make sure you read the label. Also, know the active ingredients and watch out for duplicate ingredients. Avoid duplicate usage. For example, two cold medications may contain different active ingredients, but both act to reduce fever. That's usage duplication and that should be avoided.

And, finally, follow those directions carefully. So read them and do what they say.

COSTELLO: Good advice.

Dr. Sandy Fryhofer, thanks for joining us this morning.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired December 30, 2003 - 06:53   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Chances are you or someone in your family is fighting off a cold or soon will be. And most people turn to over the counter remedies for relief. But these medicines can have serious consequences if not taken properly.
Dr. Sandra Fryhofer is here with more.

How big of a problem is this?

DR. SANDRA FRYHOFER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, these medications are real popular, Carol. There are about 100, over 100,000 different over the counter medications and a lot of people are taking them. About 51 percent of people not only take an over the counter, but also take a prescription medication. But almost half of the people in a recent poll admitted that they're not taking these medications properly. They're either taking them too often or taking too much at one time. And if the active ingredient is something like acetaminophen, this can be a disaster.

Acetaminophen is very hard on the liver. It can cause liver toxicity if taken in too high a dose. If you have something like hepatitis, it increases your risk. But even regular moderate drinking, that's only three drinks per day on a regular basis, can greatly increase your risk of liver problems with these over the counters.

COSTELLO: And by drinking, you mean combining alcohol with these medications?

FRYHOFER: Yes, alcohol. And a drink would be considered a glass of wine, a bottle of beer or a shot of liquor. So if you're regularly drinking three of those a day and you're taking too much acetaminophen, you could really get into some trouble.

COSTELLO: Ooh, that's scary.

What about combining medications like taking the Tylenol with the Alka Seltzer?

FRYHOFER: Well, OK, let's say you have a cold so you get a combination cold preparation. And then you have some menstrual cramps, so you'll take one of these, either acetaminophen or an ibuprofen. Let's say you have a little bit of shoulder pain from taking down that Christmas tree and so you add a naproxen and you've got a little indigestion or heartburn from overeating at the -- during the holidays, well, without realizing it, you may have double dosed or triple dosed yourself with analgesics or anti-inflammatories. And with these anti-inflammatories, this is another big problem. They're extremely hard on the stomach. They can eat a hole in your stomach. They can cause an ulcer. Also, they can cause kidney problems and liver problems, as well.

COSTELLO: oh, well, it's a simple question, you know, what can you do to avoid the danger? You read the directions on the back of the box.

FRYHOFER: You know, you're exactly right. The directions are there. The FDA has really been, has mandated that the directions be clear and they also have mandated that they be big enough to read. So you want to make sure you read the label. Also, know the active ingredients and watch out for duplicate ingredients. Avoid duplicate usage. For example, two cold medications may contain different active ingredients, but both act to reduce fever. That's usage duplication and that should be avoided.

And, finally, follow those directions carefully. So read them and do what they say.

COSTELLO: Good advice.

Dr. Sandy Fryhofer, thanks for joining us this morning.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com