At the Center for Student Health, ill patients come in to see Dr. Frank Carnevale everyday. But sometimes, for the veteran director of Health Services & Student Wellness, diagnosing them is not so easy.
"When the student has a rapid heart rate, sweating, insomnia and there is no symptoms, it's usually the abuse of nonprescription meds," said Carnevale.
Students don't always realize the dangers over-the-counter medications - that can be bought without a prescription - can pose if not taken correctly.
Kate Lazarovic, a junior theatre major, is used to taking a large doses of over-the-counter medications. Sometimes the amount recommended on the bottle is not enough, she said.
"Whenever I take Advil or Tylenol I four at on time is the limit," she said. "The recommended dosage Tylenol is two caplets every 4-6 hours. For Advil it is only one."
According to Dr. Barbara Chapin, a pharmacist at Eckerd Pharmacy on Grand Island and a recent UB graduate, students should read the warning on the medicine bottle and mind what can be done to prevent misuse.
"The general public does not take into consideration the risks of abusing over-the-counter medications," said Chapin.
"Anything beyond what's on he bottle is too much," said Carnevale.
The Food and Drug Administration Web site has recently made efforts to educate people on the dangers of abusing over-the-counter medications.
According to the FDA, more medication does not necessarily mean better medication. Students should never misuse over-the-counter medicines by taking them longer or in higher doses than the label recommends.
Jennifer Osuch, a senior English major, doesn't use over-the counter medications often, but when she does, she is cautious.
"I take Aleve just once in awhile," she said. "I'm not too keen on taking too much medications. With Aleve, you're only allowed to take three in a 24 hour period and that's exactly what I do."
The FDA has recently rescinded many popular drugs that were widely abused.
"Phenylpropanolamine has been withdrawn from the market completely, a drug that was a main ingredient in Dexatrim," said Timothy Cramer, a pharmacist at Eckerd Pharmacy on Grand Island. "A rising number of deaths occurred from strokes, which were caused by drug overdoses."
Other drugs that are still on the market and are flagship brands can still present a hidden hazard to the consumer.
The commonly taken drug Tylenol contains acetaminophen, which can cause liver damage if taken in excess. When mixed with alcohol, the results can be deadly, Chapin warned.
"Mixing alcohol with any type of antihistamine will most likely cause excessive drowsiness, which is extremely dangerous when driving," Chapin said.
"I never drink when taking over-the-counter drugs," added Osuch. 'It's really dangerous."
According to Seana O'Mara, a fifth-year student in the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, a common problem is students combining different medications.
"When you have a cough and you're running a fever, you end up mixing the Tylenol and Robitussin," said Lazarovic.
O'Mara advises students to seek out a pharmacist if they have any questions about their medication.
"Before taking any over-the-counter medications, you should always check the side effects with a pharmacist," O'Mara said. "It is important to make sure that these drugs will not interact with any prescription drugs that you may already be taking."
Staying up to study for an exam or to finish a paper can often take precedence over health in many students minds. In order to stay awake, they may take caffeine pills or other medications as a stimulant.
"They may feel like the drugs are helping," said Carnevale. "But overall they will lose their concentration and focus."
According to both Cramer and O'Mara, Sudafed, a common remedy for congestion, and NoDoz, a caffeine pill, are taken by many college students in lieu of coffee or sugar. But high blood pressure, anxiety, and shaking can occur if these drugs are abused.
Conversely, medications such as Benadryl, which causes drowsiness, are taken in order to fall asleep after pulling an all-nighter.
"To many college students, grades are extremely important," Cramer said. "In some cases, the student is not aware of the health risks involved with many of these medications, but often times, the grade seems to be more important than the health risks."
"College students could easily become addicted to caffeine pills," Chapin said. "After a while, not having the drug in their system could lead to feelings similar to those of depression."
Cramer said common sense is the best weapon against incident.
"The best way to prevent the risk of side effects from medications is to be informed," he said.
