Nearly 90% of adults over 65 take at least one medication regularly, and many also rely on over-the-counter pain relievers, allergy medicines, sleep aids, and heartburn remedies. While these products don’t require a prescription, they aren’t automatically harmless. As we age, changes in kidney function, liver function, metabolism, and balance make some common over-the-counter (OTC) medicines far more likely to cause side effects or dangerous drug interactions than they did decades earlier. A medication you’ve safely used for years could affect you very differently today.
Some habits could put you at a bigger risk than others. That being said, here are some of the most common things seniors do that could make your medication unsafe later in life
Assuming Over-the-Counter Means Completely Safe
Many people have taken the same pain reliever or allergy medication for decades without thinking twice about it. Unfortunately, the body’s liver, kidneys, and metabolism naturally change with age, affecting how medications are processed and eliminated. That means a dose that caused no issues at age 45 may produce stronger effects at age 70, especially when combined with prescription medications. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advises older adults to review every medication, including vitamins and supplements, with their healthcare providers because interactions become more common as medication lists grow.
Taking Multiple Products With the Same Active Ingredient
More than 600 prescription and over-the-counter medicines contain acetaminophen, making accidental overdoses surprisingly common. That’s why the FDA recommends checking the active ingredient list every time you combine cold medicine, pain relievers, or nighttime products.
Cold medicine, nighttime pain relievers, sinus medications, and sleep aids often contain overlapping ingredients that many shoppers never notice. Acetaminophen, for example, appears in hundreds of combination products, making accidental overdoses easier than many people realize. Someone may take a pain reliever during the day, then a nighttime cold medicine before bed without realizing both contain the same ingredient.
Reading the “Active Ingredients” section on every label can prevent unnecessary liver damage and other serious complications. You should always read labels carefully every time you buy or use an OTC product because brand names alone don’t tell the full story.
Using OTC Sleep Aids Every Night
Difficulty sleeping becomes more common after retirement, but many OTC sleep aids rely on diphenhydramine, the same antihistamine found in Benadryl. According to the American Geriatrics Society’s Beers Criteria, first-generation antihistamines such as diphenhydramine are generally considered potentially inappropriate for many older adults because they increase the risk of confusion, constipation, urinary retention, dry mouth, falls, and even delirium.
Diphenhydramine doesn’t just make people sleepy. In older adults, it can also linger in the body longer than expected because medications are metabolized differently with age. The result may be morning grogginess, slower reaction times, confusion, and a higher risk of nighttime falls.
While these medications may occasionally be appropriate under medical guidance, using them night after night can create more problems than they solve. Better long-term approaches may include improving sleep habits, adjusting medications that interfere with sleep, or discussing safer alternatives with a healthcare provider.
Relying Too Heavily on NSAID Pain Relievers
Imagine taking ibuprofen every morning for arthritis while also taking a daily aspirin or prescription blood thinner. Individually, each medication may be appropriate. Together, however, they can significantly increase the risk of stomach bleeding.
Ibuprofen and naproxen are among the most commonly used OTC medications in America. While they can be effective for arthritis, muscle pain, and headaches, regular use can raise the risk of stomach ulcers, gastrointestinal bleeding, kidney problems, and cardiovascular complications, particularly in older adults or those taking blood thinners. The risk increases even further when people self-medicate for weeks or months without discussing ongoing pain with their physician. Instead of treating recurring pain indefinitely, it’s often safer to identify the underlying cause and explore other treatment options.
Forgetting to Mention OTC Medications at Medical Appointments
Many patients bring a list of prescriptions to doctor visits but leave out vitamins, herbal supplements, antacids, allergy medications, and pain relievers. That missing information can make it difficult for healthcare providers to recognize dangerous drug interactions or explain new symptoms such as dizziness, constipation, memory problems, or falls.
The National Institute on Aging recommends keeping an up-to-date medication list that includes every prescription, OTC medicine, vitamin, and supplement you take, along with the dosage and reason for using it. Pharmacists can also review your complete medication list and often identify concerns before they become serious problems.
Signs an OTC Medication May Be Causing Problems
When it comes to OTC medication safety, everyone should be aware of the symptoms to look out for. If you experience any of the following, your meds could be causing an issue, and it’s best to consult a medical professional.
new dizzinessconfusionfrequent fallsexcessive drowsinessstomach bleedingblack stoolsworsening memorytrouble urinatingunusual fatigue
Small Medication Changes Can Prevent Big Health Problems
Growing older doesn’t mean giving up the convenience of over-the-counter medicines. It does mean recognizing that the same products you’ve trusted for decades may affect your body differently today. An annual medication review with your doctor or pharmacist, careful label reading, and avoiding duplicate ingredients are simple habits that can reduce the risk of falls, hospitalizations, and dangerous drug interactions. The next time you reach into your medicine cabinet, take an extra moment to read the label. You may discover it’s one of the easiest ways to protect your health and your independence.
Have you ever discovered that an over-the-counter medication caused an unexpected problem or interacted with another medicine? Share your experience or medication safety tips in the comments below.
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Drew Blankenship is a seasoned personal finance and lifestyle writer with more than a decade of professional writing experience crafting clear, actionable advice that helps savers and investors over 40 protect their wealth and make smarter everyday decisions. His bylines appear regularly on SavingAdvice.com, CleverDude.com, and other respected outlets, where he draws on deep industry knowledge to deliver practical insights on cost control, smart spending, and long-term financial security.
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