Should I be concerned?

Today I was in the medicine aisle looking for some specific pain reliever for my daughter.  After I found it, I was reading the ingredients (because that's what you do when you are married to a biochemist)!  As I am reading the list, I am super surprised that this pain reliever had an antihistamine listed as one of the top three ingredients.  Note: This medicine is not being sought out for allergies nor for a sinus related problem.  Curious, I stepped up to the pharmacy counter and asked why this particular pain reliever had an antihistamine in it?  First I stumped the assistant, who then called over the pharmacy manager.  Next, she too could not explain it to me, even after thoroughly reading the labeling.  In fact, she seemed baffled by the addition of this ingredient, but assured me that my daughter would be fine taking it for her problem.

Concerned?  Yes!!  We put our lives in the hands of these druggist, whether they are immediately in the pharmacy, or serving as a knowledgeable resource.  It reminds me of an incident my husband had while teaching a large number of pre-med students.  He had a couple of students who wanted to sail through their pre-med experience because the "real" learning didn't happen until medical school.  My husband turned to these students and said, "Please don't make me, when I am rolled into the emergency room and in need of immediate assistance, have to ask for another doctor when I see your face because I remember how poorly you did in my class.  How flippant you were to the overall study of medicine that will really allow you to help other people."

Thankfully, I am blessed with a husband who can either tell me why, or help me discover why, the antihistamine was added to this pain reliever!  But really, we need to empower ourselves with knowledge and not simply rely upon so-called "experts".

Okay---My soap box episode is done.  Thank you for tolerating me.