When faced with a cold, many transit professionals look to prescription or over-the-counter cold medications to help them get through the work day. In some cases these individuals combine over-the-counter (OTC) cold and fever medications with other OTCs, prescription medications, dietary supplements, alcohol or caffeine. Many of these substances contain the same active ingredient. By combining these medicines, individuals may be taking more than the recommended daily dose of the active ingredient. They may unwittingly overdose on the medications, put their health at risk and compromise their ability to perform safety-sensitive functions.
   Experts cite the confusion over the variety of cold medications on the market as the primary reason for this overdose potential. Over 100,000 OTC medications are available on the market. It is essential that transit professionals read the labels of OTC cold medications carefully before selecting a medicine since the risk associated with the misuse of cold medication is still widely underestimated. Special caution should be used with substances that contain alcohol or sedatives. Also, medications should only be taken to treat the particular symptoms being experienced. For example, congestion should be treated with a decongestant. People oftentimes take a decongestant, a pain reliever, and a sleep medication all at the same time, when in fact their only symptom was congestion. Individuals unsure about taking an OTC medicine, should check with their health care provider or pharmacist to determine if it is safe to combine medicines (prescribed or OTC), to take the medicines with alcohol, or to take OTC dietary supplements, such as kava and St. John’s Wort with medicines and/or alcohol.
   There is no cure for the common cold. Medicine can only make your symptoms less bothersome until your body can fight off the virus. Medicine will not make a cold go away completely. The best advice for fighting a cold is to stay home and rest, especially if the cold is accompanied by a fever. Plenty of fluids such as water, fruit juices and clear soups should be consumed. Warm salt water used to gargle a few times a day may relieve a sore throat, salt water nose drops may help loosen mucus and moisten the tender skin in the nose. Tobacco and alcohol should be avoided, and no employee should return to safety-sensitive duties until he or she is fit for duty.

   The beginning of a new year is a good time to perform a task that many neglect—cleaning out the medicine chest. People tend to let their medicine chests become cluttered with new and old prescriptions, over-the-counter (OTC) medications, preparations, ointments, first aid supplies and various other sundries. Once in the medicine chest, medications are often kept just in case they are needed and sometimes are forgotten entirely. The result is a cornucopia of medications months, if not years, past their expiration dates.
   Over time, the chemical makeup and potency of medications change. Many medications become ineffective past their expiration date. Heat, cold and moisture can also affect a medication’s potency. Taking outdated medications is dangerous because they may not help you control the condition nor treat the symptoms for which they were prescribed or purchased. Before taking any medicine, check the expiration date and discard ones that have expired.
   The American Pharmacists Association (APhA) recommends that consumers avoid keeping certain medications in bathroom or kitchen cabinets and suggests that medication should always be stored according to package directions.

Non-evidential Testing Devices
May 4, 2001
Federal Register Vol.66
Pages 22639 - 22640
Primary Topic: Initial Alcohol Screening Devices