Table 3.
Misuse for Typical and Persistent/Worsening OTC Selections by Symptom Scenario
| Misuse categories | Typical OTC selections n (%) |
Persistent or worsening OTC selections n (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Drug-age evaluation (typical n = 197; persistent/worsening n = 34) | 17 (24%) | |
| Cough/cold/allergy | ||
| Drug-age misuse | 8 (8%) | 4 (57%) |
| Pain | ||
| Drug-age misuse | 10 (37%) | 4 (20%) |
| Sleep | ||
| Drug-age misuse | 0 (0%) | |
| Drug-drug evaluation (typical n = 191; persistent/worsening n = 30) | 28 (41%) | |
| Cough/cold/allergy | ||
| Drug-drug misuse | 43 (44%) | 4 (80%) |
| Pain | ||
| Drug-drug misuse | 11 (42%) | 12 (60%) |
| Sleep | ||
| Drug-drug misuse | 1 (20%) | |
| Drug-disease evaluation (typical n = 192; persistent/worsening n = 32) | 6 (9%) | |
| Cough/cold/allergy | ||
| Drug-disease misuse | 13 (13%) | 2 (40%) |
| Pain | ||
| Drug-disease misuse | 5 (19%) | 4 (20%) |
| Sleep | ||
| Drug-disease misuse | 0 (0%) | |
| Drug-label evaluation (typical n = 194; persistent/worsening n = 34) | 20 (29%) | |
| Cough/cold/allergy | ||
| Drug-label misuse | 47 (47%) | 4 (57%) |
| Pain | ||
| Drug-label misuse | 10 (40%) | 14 (70%) |
| Sleep | ||
| Drug-label misuse | 3 (43%) |
Note: OTC = over-the-counter.