Navigating the Pharmacy Aisles

The Basics

Differences Between Prescription and OTC Medicines

Cutting, Crushing, Chewing, Opening, or Dissolving Medicines

Over-the-counter (OTC) medications play an important part in our healthcare. They allow millions of Americans to treat their own common health problems with easily accessible, affordable, and effective medicines. But, choosing the right OTC medicine can be confusing. There are many choices, and in order to safely choose the right medicine, you must first know what you’re looking for and how to read an OTC medicine Drug Facts label.

Store shelves are usually arranged according to medicines that treat the symptoms of a certain illness or health problem. The table below lists the most common symptoms or conditions treated with OTC medicines, the category or type of the medicines used to treat these symptoms, along with examples of active ingredients to look for in the Drug Facts label. Always ask your pharmacist if you have questions about OTC medicines.

Symptoms or Conditions

Category/Type of OTC Medicine (Purpose)

Example(s) of
Active Ingredient(s)

Runny Nose, Itching of the Nose or Throat, Itchy, or Watery Eyes Due to Hay Fever or Other Upper Respiratory Allergies	Antihistamine	diphenhydramine loratadine cetirizine doxylamine
Heartburn or Indigestion	Antacid or Acid Reducer	famotidine
Hair Loss	Hair Regrowth Treatment	minoxidil
Fungal Infection (e.g., yeast infection, jock itch, ringworm, athlete’s foot)	Anti-fungal	clotrimazole miconazole nitrate
Upset Stomach Associated with Nausea	Upset Stomach Reliever (antinausea, also known as antiemetic)	phosphorated carbohydrate solution
Vaginal Yeast Infection	Vaginal Antifungal (also known as anti-candidial)	clotrimazole miconazole nitrate
Diarrhea	Anti-diarrheal	loperamide
Eye Care Contact Lens (cleaning)	Peroxide-based Contact Lens Cleaning	hydrogen peroxide 3%
Eye Care Contact Lens (hydrating)	Saline-based Contact Lens Solution	saline solution
Acne Vulgaris	Acne	benzoyl peroxide and sulfur, plus resorcinol, triclosan, or salicylic acid
Mucous or Phlegm in the Trachea or Lungs	Cough Expectorant	guaifenesin
Cough	Cough Suppressant	dextromethorphan (commonly found in combination products)
Nasal Stuffiness	Decongestant	phenylephrine oxymetazoline pseudoephedrine
Diaper Rash	Skin Protectant	zinc oxide
Fatigue or Drowsiness	Alertness Aid	caffeine
Red Eyes	Redness Reliever Eye Drops	tetrahydrozoline naphazoline (commonly found in combination products)
Itchy Eyes	Antihistamine Eye Drop Solution	pheniramine maleate
Dry Eyes	Eye Lubricant	dextran 70 hypromellose glycerin propylene glycol
Fever	Fever Reducer	acetaminophen
Constipation	Laxative Stool Softener	bisacodyl docusate
Hemorrhoids	Protectant for Hemorrhoids Vasoconstrictor (constricts blood vessels)	mineral oil, petrolatum, phenylephrine HCl
Minor Aches and Pains	Analgesic or Pain Reliever	acetaminophen naproxen ibuprofen aspirin
Menstrual Period Symptoms	Pain Reliever Menstrual Period Symptom Reliever	Ibuprofen, naproxen, or acetaminophen (pain reliever) used alone or in combination with: pamabrom or caffeine (diuretic) or pyrilamine maleate (antihistamine)
Motion Sickness	Antiemetic	dimenhydrinate meclizine
Withdrawal Symptoms, Including Nicotine Craving, Associated with Quitting Smoking	Stop Smoking Aid	nicotine
Minor Aches and Pains for Muscle and Joints	Topical Analgesic Topical Pain Reliever	camphor, menthol, methyl salicylate
Itching Skin	Topical Anti-itch or Topical Analgesic	diphenhydramine hydrocortisone
Occasional Sleeplessness or Difficulty Falling Asleep	Nighttime Sleep-aid	diphenhydramine doxylamine
Toothache/Teething	Pain Reliever	benzocaine
Warts	Wart Remover	salicylic acid
Weight Loss	Weight Loss Aid	orlistat