The safety of over-the-counter drugs: some reflections and unanswered questions

Over-the-counter medication and herbal or dietary supplement use in college: dose frequency and relationship to self-reported distress

OBJECTIVE

A growing number of researchers have examined the use of over-the-counter (OTC) medications and herbal or dietary supplements among college students. There is concern about the efficacy and safety of these products, particularly because students appear to use them at a higher rate than does the general public.

PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS

The authors administered surveys to college students (N = 201) to assess the frequency of use in the past week.

RESULTS

A substantial percentage reported using OTC medications (74.1%), herbal or dietary supplements (70.6%), or both concurrently (61.2%). Dose frequency of OTC medications was the best predictor of self-reported emotional distress in the past week. Higher doses of products containing pseudoephedrine or valerian were associated with self-reported anxiety.

CONCLUSIONS

These data further reflect an increasing trend toward self-medication among college students. Investigators must conduct reliability and validity studies to evaluate the clinical utility of the measurement tool developed in this study.