A Note about Errata
The publisher, authors, and other contributors have made every effort to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information presented in the 15th edition of the Handbook of Nonprescription Drugs. From time to time, however, inadvertent errors are found in many books. We will post any substantive errors discovered in the Handbook as soon as possible—after the material in question has been researched thoroughly by the authors.
Erratum notices will be posted in the order in which they are reported, with the most recent erratum listed first. To review notices, scroll down the text on this page.
To report substantive errata, please e-mail your comment with supporting documentation to Webmaster@otchandbook.com.
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Chapter 5, “Headache”
The following text corrections in bold type should be made to page 84, column 2, sentence 3, line 9:
Corrected sentence: "These agents can also have adverse fetal cardiovascular effects (e.g., premature closure of the ductus arteriosus).47,47A"
47A. Schiessl B et al. Prenatal constriction of the fetal ductus arteriosus—related to maternal pain medication? Z Geburtsh Neonatol 2005;209:65-8.
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Chapter 11, "Disorders Related to Colds and Allergy"
The following dosage correction in bold type should be made to Table 11-10, column 2, on page 221:
| TABLE 11-10 Dosage Guidelines for Systemic Nonprescription Antihistamines15 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Dosage (Maximum Daily Dosage) | |||
| Drug | Adults/Children 12 Years and Older | Children 6-<12 Years | Children 2-<6 Years |
| Diphenhydramine HCl | 25-50 mg q4-6h (300 mg) | 12.5-25 mg q4-6h (150 mg) | 6.25 mg q4-6h (37.5 mg) |
15. Cold, cough, allergy, bronchodilator, and antiasthmatic drugs products for over-the-counter human use. Code of Federal Regulations. Title 21, vol 5, pt 341. Revised April 1, 2004. Available at: http://www.fda.gov. Accessed January 1, 2005.
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Chapter 42, "Minor Wounds and Secondary Bacterial Skin Infections"
The table below lists corrected primary ingredients and units of measure (in bold type) for products listed in Table 42-5 on page 882.
| TABLE 42-5 Selected Antibiotic Products | ||
|---|---|---|
| Trade Name | Primary Ingredients | |
| Neosporin Ointment | Polymixin B sulfate 5000 U/g; bacitracin zinc 400 U/g; neomycin base 3.5 mg/g | |
| Neosporin Plus Maximum Strength Cream Ointment | Bacitracin zinc 500 U/g; polymixin B sulfate 10,000 U/g; neomycin base 3.5 mg/g; pramoxine HCl 10 mg | |
| Neosporin Plus Maximum Strength Cream Ointment | Polymixin B sulfate 10,000 U/g; bacitracin zinc 500 U/g | |
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Chapter 51, "Home Testing and Monitoring Devices"
In four instances on pages 1048 and 1049, a unit of measure was given as "IU/mL" when it should have been "mIU/mL." The corrected text is shown below in bold type.
[Page 1048, Table 51-2]
| TABLE 51-2 Selected One-step Pregnancy Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Trade Name | hCG Sensitivity* | Product Features |
| First Response Early Result | Excellent | 2 tests; uses test stick; best combination of sensitivity and reliability |
| Clear Choice | Excellent | 1 test; uses cup; some samples failed to work in Consumer Reports test |
| Answer Quick & Simple One-Step | Very good | 2 tests; uses test sticks; no wick protection; possibly messy to use |
| ClearBlue Easy One Minute | Good | 2 tests; uses test sticks; digital display |
| e.p.t. | Good | 1 or 2 tests; uses test sticks; e.p.t. Certainty has digital display |
| CVS, Equate (Wal-Mart), Target, Walgreens, Rite Aid, and Sav-On Osco house brand | Fair | 1 or 2 tests; uses test sticks; some Equate samples failed to work in Consumer Reports test |
| Inverness Medical | Fair | 2 tests; uses test cassette |
| Confirm | Fair | 2 tests; uses test sticks; some samples failed to work in Consumer Reports test |
* Consumer Reports' ratings: "Excellent" is approximately equivalent to 6.25 mIU/mL and "fair" to 100 mIU/mL. Values for "very good" and "good" were not given. For all tests rated "very good," "good," or "fair," waiting 10 minutes before reading test improved sensitivity.5
[Page 1049, column 2, sentence 1, line 3]
Product Selection Guidelines
Product labeling for most tests states women may use the test as early as the first day of a missed menstrual period. Some tests that can detect hCG levels at 25 mIU/mL or less can be used 3 days before the missed period. The earlier a pregnancy test is used, the greater the likelihood of a false-negative result. Most pregnancy tests are one-step procedures. Some tests have clear test sticks that allow the woman to see the reaction occurring as a check that sufficient urine was absorbed by the stick. Other tests include two devices, which can be helpful if a negative test is obtained first. The newest tests are digital and display the results as "pregnant" or "not pregnant" instead of colored lines, which eliminates the need to interpret the results. The time to obtain test results varies from 1 to 5 minutes. Generic (store-brand) kits are available and are usually less expensive than the brand-name kits.
In a test of 18 pregnancy test kits, Consumer Reports found that First Response Early Result was the most sensitive and reliable test kit.5 It detected hCG at concentrations as low as 6.5 mIU/mL. Although many of the kits tested did not perform as well as the First Response Early Result, waiting 10 minutes (the maximum time allowed for each test) to read the results improved the performance for most of the tests.