Over-the-counter drugs

Product names

These come in three different types.

Stimulants – such as cough/cold treatments and decongestants (especially 'non-drowsy') such as Actifed Expectorant, Sinutab and Sudafed.
Depressants – such as cough/cold linctuses, painkiller analgesic capsules and diarrhoea preparations such as Nurofen Plus, Paracodol, Feminax and Syndol.
Sedatives – such as anti-histamines, cough/cold treatments and some night time sleep aids like Piriton, Night Nurse, Benylin and Contac 400.

How they affect you

Stimulants can make you excited, alert, agitated and anxious, increase your heart rate and blood pressure.
Depressants can cause mild euphoria, relaxation, detachment, decreased heart rate and blood pressure, increased effects of alcohol, and physical addiction.
Sedatives can make you sleepy/drowsy even at normal dosages, and increase the effects of alcohol.

Are they legal?

Risks, signs and symptoms

Misuse of these products often mimics the classic symptoms of a clinical drug addiction, with physical and psychological effects.
Dependence doesn’t always mean you’re regularly taking large daily quantities of a drug. You can become dependent on having to take a daily amount that is under the maximum recommended dosage, but you’ve done so over many years.
You can become unintentionally addicted to an over-the-counter drug. You may have simply bought it to treat a physical complaint, without being aware that it could be addictive.

How you can reduce the risks

The only way to fully reduce the risks from over-the-counter drugs is to only take them for a short period or as directed by your doctor.
If you think you may have become dependent on an over-the-counter drug, try to reduce your use and speak to a drug worker or a doctor.