An expert has warned that the current pharma labels on non-prescription drugs may not be effective enough when it comes to preventing accidental overdoses.

Brian Strom from the School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania told USA Today that many people assume over-the-counter medicines are harmless because they do not have to be prescribed by a doctor.

However, he warned that lots of pharmacy customers could be doing long-term damage to their bodies by using too many drugs such as ibuprofen and antihistamines.

"All drugs have side-effects ... If they have active ingredients, they have side-effects and can interfere with normal body functions ," Mr Strom commented.

The expert urged manufacturers to do more to prevent overuse, suggesting packaging drugs in smaller quantities and adding clearer warnings to peelable labels.

In June, a study by Consumer Reports Health found that some drugs are not featuring key safety information on their packaging recommended by doctors and their manufacturers.

Denny Bros Ltd, 04 August 2011