About this session
Everyday medicines can be useful for pain, allergies, coughs, colds, indigestion, sleep and other common concerns, but the choice between prescription and over-the-counter treatment is not always straightforward.
Products may contain the same active ingredient under different brand names, include several medicines in one pack or be unsuitable alongside certain health conditions or existing treatment.
This session helps participants slow down the decision process and look beyond familiar packaging. They practice checking active ingredients, dosage instructions, age limits, warnings, expiry dates and whether another product already contains the same medicine.
Participants also explore when self-care is reasonable, when a pharmacist can help and when symptoms need medical assessment rather than repeated over-the-counter treatment.
The emphasis is practical medication confidence rather than fear, rigid rules or replacing individualized professional advice.
What your people take away
- Distinguish prescription, pharmacy and general-sale medicines
- Identify active ingredients and avoid accidental duplication
- Read dosage, timing, warning and storage instructions more confidently
- Check whether a medicine fits existing conditions, treatment and daily activities
- Recognize when symptoms need pharmacist, prescriber or urgent support
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What each length covers
30 minutes
30 Minutes — Key Points: Choose and Use Everyday Medicines More SafelyA focused 30-minute session on three key points from Choose and Use Everyday Medicines More Safely: find the active ingredient, read the whole dosage instruction and build a before-you-take-it checklist.
- Find the active ingredient
- Read the whole dosage instruction
- Build a before-you-take-it checklist
Covers 3 of 4 points in Choose and Use Everyday Medicines More Safely.
60 minutes
The 60-minute session focuses on immediate practical application. Participants compare labels, identify active ingredients, check dosing instructions and build a simple before-you-take-it checklist.
- Module 1: Choose and Use Everyday Medicines More Safely
- Live Q&A
Covers 1 of 3 parts: Choose and Use Everyday Medicines More Safely.
90 minutes
The 90-minute session adds deeper exploration of combination products, existing prescriptions, health conditions, alcohol, driving, supplements and practical barriers. Participants prepare more focused questions for pharmacists and prescribers.
- Module 1: Choose and Use Everyday Medicines More Safely
- Module 2: Reduce Duplication and Interaction Risk
- Live Q&A
Covers 2 of 3 parts: Choose and Use Everyday Medicines More Safely and Reduce Duplication, Interactions and Practical Risk.
3 hours
Covers all 3 parts.
Full day
The full-day session combines label-reading and medicine-selection skills with clearer boundaries around self-care. Participants distinguish routine symptoms from patterns requiring assessment and create a reliable process for reviewing what they use.
- Module 1: Choose and Use Everyday Medicines More Safely
- Module 2: Reduce Duplication and Interaction Risk
- Module 3: Navigate Self-Care, Professional Advice and Follow-Up
- Live Q&A
Covers all 3 parts, in more depth, with more time to practice.
What’s covered
Choose and Use Everyday Medicines More Safely
Every length- Find the active ingredientParticipants locate the active ingredient rather than relying on the brand name or packaging color.
- Read the whole dosage instructionParticipants check how much to take, how often, the maximum daily amount, age restrictions and how long the product is intended to be used.
- Build a before-you-take-it checklistParticipants create a short decision process covering the symptom, active ingredient, other medicines already taken, relevant conditions, allergies and required activities such as driving or operating equipment.
- Check expiry, storage and conditionParticipants review expiry dates, damaged packaging, storage instructions and the condition of liquids, creams and devices.
Reduce Duplication, Interactions and Practical Risk
90 minutes and longer- Spot combination productsParticipants examine multi-symptom cold, flu, pain and sleep products and identify the medicines included in each one.
- Include prescriptions and supplementsParticipants add regular prescriptions, occasional medicines, vitamins, herbal products and supplements to the decision.
- Check health conditions and daily activitiesParticipants identify label warnings relevant to pregnancy, allergies, asthma, stomach problems, kidney or liver concerns, high blood pressure and other conditions.
- Ask a pharmacist the right questionsParticipants prepare concise questions about suitability, ingredient duplication, dose, expected benefit, side effects and how long to continue.
Navigate Self-Care, Symptoms and Professional Support
3 hours and longer- Decide when self-care is reasonableParticipants consider symptom severity, duration, previous experience and impact on daily function before choosing an everyday medicine.
- Avoid extending treatment without reviewParticipants check how long the product is intended to be used and whether symptoms are improving as expected.
- Record what you took and what happenedParticipants note the product, active ingredient, dose, timing, benefit and any unwanted effects.
- Recognize when more urgent help is neededParticipants identify severe breathing difficulty, facial or throat swelling, collapse, severe confusion, significant bleeding, overdose concerns or rapidly worsening symptoms as reasons for urgent medical assistance.
Who it’s for
- Employees who use over-the-counter medicines for common everyday symptoms
- People unsure whether a product is safe alongside existing prescriptions or supplements
- Anyone wanting to avoid accidental ingredient duplication or unsafe combinations
- Teams building medication-safety or health-literacy campaigns
- Employees who rely on familiar brands without checking labels closely
- Organizations offering practical medication education with appropriate clinical boundaries
How booking works
- Book online. Create a free Workbliss profile, then pay with session credits, by card or by invoice.
- Pick a date. Choose a date at least 14 days ahead, or book now and set the date later.
- Choose your expert. Within 3 working days, we send you profiles of the experts available for your date.
- We deliver it. Your expert is briefed on your people and goals, then runs the session live online or at your site.
Questions about Prescription or Over the Counter? Using Everyday Medicines Safely
How long is Prescription or Over the Counter? Using Everyday Medicines Safely?
Prescription or Over the Counter? Using Everyday Medicines Safely runs as 30 minutes, 60 minutes, 90 minutes, 3 hours or full day. You choose the length when you book. A 30-minute session covers three key points from Choose and Use Everyday Medicines More Safely: find the active ingredient, read the whole dosage instruction and build a before-you-take-it checklist. A 60-minute session covers Choose and Use Everyday Medicines More Safely in full, with a live Q&A. A 90-minute session adds Reduce Duplication, Interactions and Practical Risk. A 3-hour session adds Navigate Self-Care, Symptoms and Professional Support. A full-day session covers everything, in more depth, with more time to practice.
Can Prescription or Over the Counter? Using Everyday Medicines Safely be delivered online or in person?
Yes, both. It runs live online, so every office can join at the same time, or in person at your site, in any country.
How do we book Prescription or Over the Counter? Using Everyday Medicines Safely?
Create a free Workbliss profile with your work email, then open Prescription or Over the Counter? Using Everyday Medicines Safely to see the price for each length and book it. You can pay with session credits, by card or by invoice, and choose a date at least 14 days ahead, or set it later.
Who leads the session?
A vetted Workbliss expert, briefed on your people, culture and goals before the session. After you book, we send you profiles of the experts available for your date within 3 working days, so you can choose who leads it.
Can it be tailored to our company?
Yes. Every session is shaped around your goals, your people and the benefits you already offer, and delivered by experts in your people’s languages.