One of the most important parts of the Drug Facts label is the active ingredients section.
Active ingredients are what make the medicine work. It is especially important to pay attention to the active ingredients listed on the label if you are taking more than one medicine—whether OTC or prescription—to make sure you are not taking too much of the same active ingredient. Too much of an active ingredient can be harmful so always check with your doctor before taking two medicines with the same active ingredients.
Do you want more information about the ingredients that may treat a particular symptom or issue? Click on a category below:
Inactive ingredients are also important, especially if you or a loved one has a known allergy.
For more information on where to find active and inactive ingredients on a label, click here.
If you have questions specifically about administering OTC medicines while treating your kids, be sure to check out OTCsafety.org’s Parents section.