More Americans shrug off over-the-counter side effects than worry about them
Core finding
More Americans brush off the risk of side effects from over-the-counter medicines than worry about it, according to a May 2026 Verasight survey. About four-in-ten (42%) disagree that they worry about side effects when taking non-prescription medications, including 17% who strongly disagree.
Fewer, about a quarter (27%), agree that they worry, including 12% who strongly agree. Another 31% take neither side.
Topline scale
More Americans shrug off over-the-counter side effects than worry about them.
Please indicate the extent to which you agree or disagree with the following statement: I worry about side effects when I take over-the-counter (non-prescription) medications.
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
Please indicate the extent to which you agree or disagree with the following statement: I worry about side effects when I take over-the-counter (non-prescription) medications.
Cite this question
Verasight SPSP Omnibus Survey #2026-045, fielded May 11-11, 2026, N=1,000 US adults age 18+, +/- 3.3%.