A Guide to the Top 10 OTC Medications
Over-the-counter medications have become part of our daily lives. From minor aches and pains to stuffy noses and upset stomachs, we reach for them before reaching out to our doctors.
Since they’re so common, we put together a handy dosage guide for 10 name-brand and generic OTC drugs you’ll find in most everyone’s medicine cabinet. Please note: these recommendations are for people over the age of 12, and of course, your doctor’s orders take precedent. Because a Tylenol dose for one person might not be right for another.
Medication Name | Dosage | Amount Per Dosing | Do Not Exceed |
Tylenol® (acetaminophen) | Regular Strength (325 mg/ tablet) | 2 tablets every 4 to 6 hours while symptoms last | Not to exceed 10 tablets in 24 hours, unless directed by a doctor. Total labeled daily dose: 3250 mg |
–– | Extra Strength (500 mg/ tablet) | 2 caplets every 6 hours while symptoms last | Not to exceed 6 caplets in 24 hours, unless directed by a doctor. Total labeled daily dose: 3000 mg |
Advil® (ibuprofen) | 1 tablet/ caplet/ gel caplet every 4 to 6 hours while symptoms persist. If pain or fever does not respond to 1 tablet/ caplet/ gel caplet, 2 may be used | Do not exceed 6 tablets/ caplets/ gel caplets in 24 hours unless directed by a doctor. | |
Aleve® (naproxen sodium) | 220 mg/ tablet, caplet, gelcap or liquid gel | Take one tablet, caplet, gelcap or liquid gel every 8 to 12 hours while symptoms last. For the first dose, you may take 2 pills within the first hour. | Do not exceed more than 2 tablets, caplets, gelcaps or liquid gels in 12 hours, and do not exceed 3 tablets, caplets, gelcaps or liquid gels in 24 hours. The smallest effective dose should be used. Drink a full glass of water with each dose. Do not take for more than 10 consecutive days for pain or 3 days for fever, unless directed by a doctor. |
Aspirin | Regular Dose (325 mg/ caplet) | Take 1 or 2 caplets every 4 hours. Drink a full glass of water with each dose. | Do not exceed 12 caplets in 24 hours, unless directed by a doctor. |
–– | Low Dose (81 mg/ tablet) | Take 4 to 8 tablets every 4 hours. Drink a full glass of water with each dose. | Do not exceed 48 tablets in 24 hours unless directed by a doctor. |
Benadryl® (diphenhydramine) | 25 mg/tablet | Take 1 to 2 tablets every 4 to 6 hours or as directed by a doctor. | Do not take more than 6 doses in 24 hours. Use only as directed. |
Sudafed® (pseudoephedrine) | Sinus Congestion (30 mg/ tablet) | Take 2 caplets every 4 to 6 hours. | Do not take more than 8 caplets in 24 hours. |
–– | Sinus Congestion 12 Hour (120 mg/ tablet) | Take 1 tablet every 12 hours. | Do not take more than 2 tablets in 24 hours. |
–– | Sinus Congestion 24 Hour (240 mg/ tablet) | Swallow one whole tablet with water every 24 hours. Do not divide, crush, chew or dissolve the tablet. | Do not exceed one tablet in 24 hours. |
Melatonin | 1-10 mg/ tablet | 0.5 mg up to 5 mg | Do not exceed nine months of taking for light difficulty falling asleep. |
Pepto-Bismol® (bismuth subsalicylate) | Original or Rapid Relief LiquiCaps (262 mg/ chewable tablet, caplet or LiquiCap) | Take 2 tablets as needed. | Maximum daily dose: 8 regular-strength (262 mg) doses or 4 extra-strength (525 mg) doses. Do not use for more than 2 days. |
Pepcid® (famotidine) | Pepcid Complete (10 mg/ chewable tablet) | To relieve symptoms, chew 1 tablet before swallowing. Do not swallow tablet whole: chew completely. | Do not use more than 2 chewable tablets in 24 hours. |
–– | Original Strength (10 mg/ tablet) | To relieve symptoms, swallow 1 tablet with a glass of water. Do not chew. To prevent symptoms, swallow 1 tablet with a glass of water 15-60 minutes before eating food or drinking beverages that cause heartburn. | Do not use more than 2 tablets in 24 hours. |
–– | Maximum Strength (20 mg/ tablet) | To relieve symptoms, swallow 1 tablet with a glass of water. Do not chew. To prevent symptoms, swallow 1 tablet with a glass of water 10-60 minutes before eating food or drinking beverages that cause heartburn. | Do not use more than 2 tablets in 24 hours. |
Tums® (calcium carbonate) | Regular Strength (500 mg/ tablet) | Chew 2-4 tablets as symptoms occur, or as directed by a doctor. | Do not take more than 15 tablets in 24 hours. Do not take for symptoms that persist for more than 2 weeks unless advised by a doctor. |
–– | Extra Strength (750 mg/ tablet) | Chew 2-4 tablets as symptoms occur, or as directed by a doctor. | Do not take more than 10 tablets in 24 hours. Do not take for symptoms that persist for more than 2 weeks unless advised by a doctor. |
Your Best Bet For the Right Dose
Whether a medication is prescribed to you or purchased off the shelf at the pharmacy, keeping pills in order is key to making sure you get the dosage you need. A pill organizer is handy for on-the-go use or travel, but if OTCs are a part of your daily routine, we recommend an automatic pill dispenser like Hero.
More than a medicine organizer, Hero is the all-in-one medication management system that makes sure you get the right dose at the right time, every time. So your regular prescriptions, your daily Advil, and your Sunday night melatonin are all in one safe, convenient place, auto-sorted and dispensed on your schedule.
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The contents of the above article are for informational and educational purposes only. The article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified clinician with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or its treatment and do not disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of information published by us.
