Over the counter pain medications come in many forms with different names like gelcaps, liquids, caplets, tablets, geltabs, liguigel, buffered, enteric coated, migraine formula and suspension. These medications come with labels also like active ingredient, uses, warnings, directions other information, and inactive ingredients. Below in the steps I plan to cover all these terms and facts.
Terms or facts on the label
Active ingredient is the substance or medication that helps relieve your symptoms. It is the first item on the label. There may be more than one active ingredient in your medication.
Uses may also be called indications on this part of the label where it lists the signs and symptoms that the medicine is approved by the food and drug administration to treat.
Warnings are used to tell you what other medicines, foods or in situations such as driving avoid while taking the medicine.
Directions- The information that tells you how much to take, when to take, and how often to take a medication.
Inactive ingredients are preservatives like binding agents and food colors. These chemicals and preservatives are not meant to treat your symptoms.
Term that describe the medication
Gelcap- This is a caplet with a gelatin coating to help ease in swallowing.
Geltab- This is a caplet with a gelatin coating to help ease in swallowing.
Caplet- Is a solid tablet in the shape of a capsule with a smooth coating.
Liquigel- This is a capsule that contains medicine that has been dissolved into liquid.
Suspension- This is a liquid that contains drug particles that can’t be dissolved.
Tablet- This is a solid pill with a binding agent.
Other terms on the product or package
Migraine formula- Medications with this label are for people that need treatment for migraine headaches.
Extra strength- This medication contains more active ingredient than the regular strength product contains. Extra strength medications can be more convenient if you need more than one regular strength dose to relieve the symptoms.
Enteric coated- This pill has a coating that allows it to pass undigested through the stomach and be dissolved in the small intestine. This coating helps reduce stomach irritation, delays absorption and gives quicker relief for a headache.
Buffered- This pain reliever contains an antacid to reduce the acidity in the stomach.
Combination formula- This medication contains two or more active ingredients. Caffeine may sometimes be used as an active ingredient along with additional other pain relievers.
Time release- Sometimes this will be called sustained release or extended release. This medication is designed to dissolve slowly.
PM or night formula- This medication is designed to be taken in the evening to help make you drowsy. This type medication usually contains an antihistamine.
Scored- This type medication has a grove in them that allows you to break them in half easily.
