How should over-the-counter medications be documented in a patient's medication history?

Documenting over-the-counter (OTC) medications as part of a patient's medication history is essential for providing comprehensive care. Including these medications along with prescription medications in a patient's records helps healthcare providers gain a full understanding of all the substances the patient is using. This is crucial for several reasons:

1. Safety and Drug Interactions: OTC medications can interact with prescription drugs, potentially leading to adverse effects or diminished efficacy of treatment. Having a complete list allows providers to identify and mitigate these risks.

2. Patient Education: Understanding what OTC medications a patient is taking enables healthcare providers to offer better guidance on safe usage, potential side effects, and any necessary adjustments in treatment plans.

3. Holistic View of Health: Patients often turn to OTC medications for a variety of reasons—self-care, management of chronic conditions, or symptomatic relief. Documenting these helps in understanding the patient's overall health and medication regimen.

4. Continuity of Care: As patients move between different healthcare settings, it's important that all their medications—prescription and non-prescription—are communicated clearly to all providers involved in their care.

In contrast, excluding OTC medications from the records would provide an incomplete picture of the patient's medication use, while documenting