Ever complain about the itchiness of a mosquito bite, only to have a friend hand you two aspirins? Though you may think your friend has gone to la-la land, she is completely right to hand you the aspirins. This is one of the off-label uses of over-the-counter (OTC) medications.

Off-label use of an OTC med is defined as the use of pharmaceutical drugs for unapproved indications, or dosages, or form of administration. Both prescription drugs and OTC drugs can be used off-label, but one must be aware that most studies have focused on the use of prescription drugs.

So caution should be taken even with OTC drugs alternatives. If it starts to hurt, or sting, the application of the drug should be immediately stopped and skin or scalp rinsed off thoroughly. With a little common sense of their uses, the following OTC meds may be valuable additions to your medicine cabinet – but outside of its intended uses.

1. Vick’s VapoRub is helpful for muscle soreness, headaches and curing nail fungus. By rubbing in VapoRub into sore muscles, the ingredients and massaging action both help relieve soreness. This increases blood flow to achy areas.

Menthol has also been shown to ease migraine pain. In a study, it was demonstrated that Vick’s applied to the forehead and temple of migraine sufferers relieved headache symptoms. Other components in Vick’s have anti-fungal qualities so it can be used in cases of nail fungus. Apply twice a day to affected nail.

2. Did you know that aspirin fights dandruff and treats insect bites and stings as well as body aches? For bug bites and stings, mosquito bites and other itchy nuisances, take two aspirin and crush them up. Add water to make a paste and apply to affected area. The anti-inflammatory properties of aspirin will kick in and keep the swelling down.
   

Salicylic acid in aspirin is a great exfoliator, and as such, a great add-in to your shampoo to stop those nasty dandruff flakes. Crush up a few aspirin and mix it to a paste. Mix that with your regular shampoo, leaving it on your hair for a few minutes. If it starts to burn, rinse it off right away, your scalp is sensitive to the salicylic acid.

Another off-label use for aspirin is one that has been around for what seems like forever. There are millions of Americans on an aspirin regimen for their heart conditions. Generally, aspirin is an anti-inflammatory medication and so is used as an anti-blood clotting drug.

3. Benedryl, the antihistamine OTC drug, can be used as a sleep aid, or a med that controls nausea and motion sickness. In humans, we have the circadian cycle that helps to regulate our sleep and wakefulness cycles. In our bodies, histamine levels drop at night, making us feel sleepy. As an antihistamine, Benedryl generally has sleep properties.

Benedryl also interferes with the histamines that send nausea signals to our brain. Because of this, it is often used as an anti-nausea drug and a remedy for seasickness.

4. Preparation H, that good old hemorrhoid cream, is also good for shrinking those under eye bags after a night of partying. It’s also effective for buffing you up and showing off your muscles, as well as acting an excellent ointment for fever blisters. The ointment of Preparation H contains vasoconstrictors which shrink swollen tissues – duh! But apply it beneath your baggy eyes and those sacks will disappear along with your puffy eyes.
   

The same vasoconstrictor compound also tightens skin so if you want to show off your muscles, just slather this on and your time at the gym will be well demonstrated.

Preparation H is also a very good ointment for the treatment of fever blisters and mouth sores. Just dab a little on the affected area.

5. Listerine mouthwash, original, kills lice, but it is not known exactly how. Some think it is the combination of alcohol and essential oils that kill the troublesome bugs. It has been noted by many users that this remedy is more effective than the store-bought formulations. To use, douse the child’s head with the original, amber-colored Listerine. Leave on for about ten to 15 minutes. Repeat as needed.

Since there seems to be a plethora of off-label uses for OTC drugs, here are some other available off-beat remedies using commonly available drugs.

Okay, so maybe toothpaste doesn’t “fit” as a medication, but it is sold OTC. Toothpaste not only keeps your pearly whites bright and clean but can also keep your skin clear as well. The baking soda and hydrogen peroxide found in most toothpastes today helps get rid of pimples in two ways.

One, it kills bacteria and two, it dries and exfoliates skin. It is not as effective as acne cream, but if you are out of the cream and discover a pimple breaking out, dap a little toothpaste on it.

Hydrocortisone ointment is typically used to stop itching but this topical steroid can also sooth cracked, dry lips. Apply it twice a day to only the dry outer lip to reduce inflammation in severely chapped lips. Don’t get this in your mouth – the taste is awful. Also, avoid prolonged use.


Sudafed can have a stimulating effect on a person that is similar to caffeine. It is normally used as a decongestant but in this application, one has to be careful of side effects like an adrenaline kick – rapid heart rate, palpitations and an increase in blood pressure.

Dramamine, the motion sickness medication, can be used as a sleep aid as it causes drowsiness. It is related to anti-anxiety medications -- so it may have a mild effect on anxiety.

Gyne-Lotrimin is commonly used by women for yeast infections, but it can also be used for jock itch, athlete’s foot, ringworm and diaper rashes.

So armed with this information of off-label uses of OTC drugs, you can put together an emergency supply kit of these little-known uses for these well-known drugs.