Dangers of Mixing OTC Cold, Pain Meds Greatly Underestimated With winter well underway, patients may need a refresher on the dangers of double dosing on OTC remedies for their colds and headaches. Five consumer surveys recently conducted by researchers in California found that most consumers are unaware that taking 2 or more OTC cold medicines and pain relievers could lead to severe liver damage and other health risks. “People don’t really completely understand the potential risks. Even when they knew they were double dosing, they really didn’t think it was much of a problem,” stated study co-author Jesse Catlin, an assistant professor of marketing at California State University. The main problem with mixing OTC cold medications and painkillers is that repeated dosages of acetaminophen exceeding the daily maximum can lead to liver damage. In fact, unintentional acetaminophen overdose results in 30,000 hospitalizations per year. Of note, the Institute for...