Over-the-counter medicines (OTC), as reported by the FDA, include more than 300,000 products and do not require a prescription from a health-care provider. Common types of OTC medications include treatment for pain, nausea, diarrhea, itching, allergies, congestion and difficulty falling to sleep. OTC medications include pills, gels, rubs, sprays and liquids.
Antacids
Over-the-counter antacids work to relieve the symptoms of heartburn, sour stomach and acid indigestion. Three distinct types of antacids include aluminum-containing antacids with common brand names such as Gaviscon, Maalox and Mylanta; calcium-containing antacids such as Mylanta, Rolaids and Tums; and magnesium-containing antacids such as Gaviscon, Maalox and Mylanta. As with any medication, there are warnings about antacids. Avoid antacids containing aluminum or magnesium if you have kidney disease. Always check with your doctor or pharmacist about any conflict of antacids with your prescription medications.
Pain Relievers
The National Institutes of Health reports that there are two main types of over-the-counter pain medications. Acetaminophen, commonly known as Tylenol, is a non-aspirin pain reliever. Common uses for acetaminophen include headache and body ache pain. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin (Bayer, Bufferin, Ecotrin, St. Joseph, Aspergum), naproxen (Aleve, Anaprox, Naprosyn) and ibuprofen (Advil, Midol, Motrin, Nuprin) treat pain and reduce inflammation associated with injury or fever.
Antihistamines
Antihistamines treat the body's allergic response to histamines released because of an allergic reaction. Symptoms of an allergy include itchy eyes and throat, runny nose and sneezing. Common over-the-counter antihistamines include diphenhydramine (Benadryl, Dytuss, Allermax), clemastine (Tavist, Contac), brompheniramine (Dimetane, Dimetapp) and chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton, Triaminic Allergy). Loratadine (Claritin, Alavert) and cetirizine (Zyrtec) treat ongoing allergies without sedation.
Rash Treatment
Common over-the-counter medications to treat rash depend on the type of rash. For rash caused by poison ivy, Mayo Clinic recommends hydrocortisone (a high-potency corticosteroid cream), calamine lotion and oral antihistamines such as diphenhydramine. Diaper rash treatment includes products with zinc oxide, sold under familiar brand names such as Desitin, Balmex, Diaper Relief, ARC and PeriGuard. Over-the-counter treatment for rashes caused by fungal infections such as ringworm, jock itch and athlete's foot includes clotrimazole topical (Lotrimin) an antifungal cream.
Laxatives
Treatment for constipation includes laxatives taken by mouth (oral) or inserted into the rectum (rectal), according to the Mayo Clinic. The different types of oral laxatives include powder, liquid, wafer, gum and tablet. The different types of rectal laxatives include suppositories and enemas. Laxatives work in different ways, depending on the type. Oral hyperosmotics, such as Phillips Milk of Magnesia, work by drawing water into the colon from surrounding tissue. Oral bulk formers, such as Citrucel and Metamucil, work to absorb water and cause intestinal muscle contraction. Stool softeners, such as Colace and Kaopectate, add moisture to the stool. Ex-lax and Senokot (oral stimulants) cause contractions of the intestinal muscles. Over-the-counter rectal stimulants, such as Fleet Bisacodyl and Dulcolax, intensify contractions of the colon to eliminate the stool.
