The Drug Caution Code: a simple tool to help you understand the precautions involved in taking over-the-counter medications

Over-the-counter medications (OTCs) are highly useful when it comes to treating benign health problems. While they don’t require a doctor’s prescription, certain precautions must still be taken when using these products. To help you understand what the safety measures are when it comes to OTCs, Quebec pharmacists have created the Drug Caution Code. 

In brief, the Drug Caution Code is a system made up of six letters, each corresponding to a specific warning. Please note that a medication can have more than one letter.

These letters are displayed on the price tag found on the product’s label and/or on the edge of the shelf where the product can be found.

It is therefore important to know the Drug Caution Code of a medication and always comply with the warnings indicated by the letter(s) related to a given OTC product.

And what’s more, your pharmacist can help you with this by:

• providing you with the Drug Caution Code card prepared by the Ordre des pharmaciens du Québec and featuring the definitions of each code letter;
• indicating on this card the letters to which you should pay special attention, given the health issues of the person under your care;
• checking whether a medication features a special warning relevant to your loved one;
• answering any additional questions you may have about the Code. 

Marie-Soleil Beaulieu
Uniprix-affiliated pharmacist
marie-soleil.beaulieu@uniprix.com

Coming next month:
How to make the difference between medication allergies and intolerances.