- 1). Determine what your symptoms are. If you have a sore throat and are coughing and sneezing, you will likely need a cold medicine. If you have back pain, look for a pain reliever, such as ibuprofen.
- 2). Find a medication that addresses your symptoms. Read the label, which will indicate what symptoms that particular medication is intended to relieve.
- 3). Read the ingredients on the medication you have chosen. You should not take multiple medications with the same ingredients, as you will risk an overdose. Many drugs have warning labels, for example, "Do not take any other product containing acetaminophen while using this drug."
- 4). Ask the pharmacist for help if you are unsure about whether to try a particular medication. You can also ask the pharmacist about medications that are kept behind the counter (such as some allergy drugs), but can be sold without a prescription.
- 5). Check with your doctor if you are currently on any prescription medications. Some over the counter drugs can interact with prescription medications, as well as herbal supplements.
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