Question

How to safely take over-the-counter cough and cold medicines:

– Read the label to determine the appropriate dosage. Do not take more than the recommended dosage.

– Do not combine cough and cold medicines together. Different medicines may contain the same active ingredient. When you combine medicines, you may take too much of the same medication.

– Do not combine cough and cold medicines with prescription medications. If you are taking prescription medications, do not take cough and cold medicine unless directed by your health care provider.

– Do not drink alcohol while taking cold medicines that make you drowsy: Combining alcohol with cough and cold medicine can increase drowsiness.

The following questions are based on these directions.

12. A consumer reads these directions on a box of over-the-counter cold medicine. In which of the following instances should the consumer consult with a health care provider?

a. Determining the appropriate dosage

b. Combining cough and cold medicines together

c. Drinking alcohol while taking cold medicines that make you drowsy

d. Combining cough and cold medicines with prescription medications.

13. Which of the following signals importance in the set of directions?

a. The use of boldface type

b. The size of the type

c. The use of implied commands

d. The bullets used

Answer 1

12) combining cough and cold with prescription medication.

If you are taking prescription medication, avoid combined use of cough or cold medication without consulting health care provider. Some active ingredients of cough and cold medicine might interact with prescription medications. This produces an unwanted effect in the patient which is harmful.

The proper dosage regimen is already mentioned in the box, so the consumer can take it accordingly. The consumer can avoid taking cold and cough medication together by checking its ingredients and also intake of alcohol without consulting doctor. But some times it is not possible to stop regularly taking medicines. So it is very important to consult a doctor before taking OTC drugs and prescribed drugs together.