Americans research over-the-counter medicine on health websites and with their doctors
Core finding
Americans lean on two kinds of sources when checking a non-prescription medicine's benefits: 65% turn to online reference sites like WebMD, and nearly as many (63%) ask a doctor or other medical professional, according to a Verasight survey conducted May 11, 2026.
Four-in-ten (40%) consult friends and family. Social media matters less, with 16% watching online videos on platforms like TikTok or Instagram and 11% using text-based sites like Facebook, while 8% say they never look for this information at all.
Topline distribution
Americans research over-the-counter medicine on health websites and with their doctors.
When choosing a non-prescription medication, I usually find information about its benefits from
n = 1,000 · May 11, 2026 · MoE ±3.3%
Methodology
Full methodology →| Mode | Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting |
|---|---|
| Population | US adults age 18+ |
| Field dates | May 11, 2026 |
| Base (unweighted) | 1,000 |
| Margin of error | ±3.3% |
| Module | beliefs |
| Sponsor | Verasight |
| Weight variable | weight |
| Weighting targets | age, race/ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, metropolitan status |
Sources
- reports.verasight.io/r/spsp26
When choosing a non-prescription medication, I usually find information about its benefits from
Cite this question
Verasight SPSP Omnibus Survey #2026-045, fielded May 11-11, 2026, N=1,000 US adults age 18+, +/- 3.3%.