The pharmacy aisle is designed to look helpful and benign. Bright boxes promise to cure your headache, clear your sinuses, and settle your stomach. Because these medicines are sold without a prescription, we naturally assume they are safe for everyone.
This assumption is dangerous, especially for those managing heart conditions. Your body is a complex chemical system, and mixing over-the-counter drugs with prescription heart medication can trigger reactions that range from mild discomfort to life-threatening emergencies. Pharmacists often see patients unknowingly sabotaging their own treatment plans simply by trying to treat a common cold.
