If you are having any symptoms or have any questions, please call 811 to speak with a registered nurse 24 hours a day.

What is an OTC medicine?

Over-the-counter (OTC) medicines are medicines you can buy without a prescription from your healthcare provider. Examples of OTC medicines include non-prescription pain relievers, allergy medicines, and cough and cold medicines. You can typically find these medicines near the pharmacy in your local grocery stores and drug stores.

What is an OTC drug facts table?

In Canada, some OTC medication labels already contain a Drug Facts Table.  Eventually all OTC medications in Canada will have one. This table gives you important information about what the medicine does, how to take it safely, and who shouldn’t take it.

How do I read an OTC drug facts table?

Drug facts tables always list the same information in the same order. See the list below for an explanation of what you’ll find in each section of the table. If you have questions about an OTC medicine, contact your family healthcare provider or pharmacist.

1. Active Ingredient. The active ingredient is the chemical compound in the medicine that works to relieve symptoms. It is always the first item on the table. There may be more than 1 active ingredient in a product.
2. Uses. This section lists the symptoms the medicine is meant to treat. Uses are sometimes called “indications.”
3. Warnings. This safety information will tell you if you should contact a healthcare provider before you take the medicine, the possible side effects of the medicine, and what other medicines, foods, or situations you should avoid while taking this medicine.
4. Directions. This section tells you how much medicine you should take and how often you should take it. For liquid medicines, be sure you use the correct measuring device (for example, a spoon made for measuring medicine, or a syringe or cup) when taking the medicine.
5. Other Information. Any other important information, such as how to store the medicine, will be listed here.
6. Inactive Ingredients. An inactive ingredient is anything in the medicine that isn’t meant to treat a symptom. This can include preservatives, binding agents, and food coloring. This section is important for people who know they have allergies to food coloring or other chemicals.
7. Questions or Comments. A toll-free phone number for the manufacturer is given in case you have any questions or want to share your comments about the medicine.