# Americans research over-the-counter medicine on health websites and with their doctors

Canonical page: https://data.verasight.io/health/americans-research-over-the-counter-medicine-on-health-websites-and-with-their-doctors/

> Indexed question in Health.

## Reading

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

When choosing a non-prescription medication, I usually find information about its benefits from

Americans research over-the-counter medicine on health websites and with their doctors.

- Online informational websites (for example, WebMD): 65.3%
- Talking to my doctor or other medical professionals: 63.0%
- Talking to friends and family: 39.7%
- Online videos on social media (for example, TikTok/ Instagram): 15.5%
- Text based social media (for example, Facebook): 11.4%
- I have never looked for information about its benefits: 8.1%

## 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: 2026-05-11 → 2026-05-11
- 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

## Source

- Canonical question URL: [https://reports.verasight.io/r/spsp26#q-1.5](https://reports.verasight.io/r/spsp26#q-1.5)

## Citation

Verasight SPSP Omnibus Survey #2026-045, fielded May 11-11, 2026, N=1,000 US adults age 18+, +/- 3.3%.

Canonical question URL: [https://reports.verasight.io/r/spsp26#q-1.5](https://reports.verasight.io/r/spsp26#q-1.5)