1. Medications

Medication Interactions

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about all of the medications you take. These include prescribed and OTC medicines and dietary supplements (vitamins, minerals, herbal products). Heed warnings on labels, too.

1. •Drug-drug interactions. These can make a drug work less, increase the action of a drug, or cause side effects, even harmful ones. For example, unless told to by a doctor, do not take an antihistamine if you take medicine for high blood pressure or a sedative or tranquilizer.
   

2. •Drug-condition interactions. Some medical conditions make taking certain drugs harmful. One example is taking a nasal decongestant if you have high blood pressure.
   

3. •Drug and food/beverage interactions. Alcohol should not be mixed with certain drugs. Grapefruit juice should not be taken with certain medicines for high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol.
   

The “Side Effects/Warnings/Interactions” in Your Home Pharmacy point out common medication interactions for OTC medicines.