Medication Safety Tips
Featured Resources
About UsReporting Medication ErrorsContact Us
Brought to you by
Left Chevron
Back
Left Chevron
Reporting a Medication Error

Don’t Confuse a Product Called WartSTICK with Lip Balm!

Published July 16, 2014 (current as of December 24, 2024)

Many people are familiar with over-the-counter (OTC) wart treatments. They are typically liquid based medicines or are packaged in an aerosol container with a special application tip. But did you know there is also a wart remover that uses a solid form of the medicine? A company called Balassa Laboratories has repackaged an old formula of a solid stick wart remover (previously packaged under the name PediFix). The product, called WartSTICK, is now available at chain drugstores and online. Our concern? It looks identical to a container of lip balm. The active ingredient in WartSTICK is salicylic acid, which should NEVER come in contact with the lips or mucous membranes inside your mouth.

If you purchase WartSTICK, take precautions to avoid accidently mixing up this product with a lip balm. Beware that this product does not come in a child proof container, so always keep WartSTICK away from a child's reach.

wartstick packaging

More Safety Articles

Before Leaving the Doctor’s Office, Expect Medication Information

It was double trouble for a patient when she and her doctor both made errors and it led to a 4-fold overdose of an antidepressant medication, CELEXA (citalopram Hydrobromide). The patient was starting this medication for the first time and after three days she began to experience severe anxiety, agitation, nausea, and severe fatigue. She called her doctor about her symptoms. The error was identified when they reviewed the medication together and realized what was causing the problem – a medication error.

Learn More

Mom Hopes Son’s Overdose Spurs Prevention Efforts

Learn More

Don't Confuse Depakote with Depakote ER

Depakote (divalproex sodium) ER is a medicine used to treat seizure disorders, migraine headaches, and certain mental illnesses such as bipolar disorder. The "ER" part of the name stands for "extended release," meaning the contents of the medicine are released slowly, not all at once, after you take the medicine. So, Depakote ER should be taken just once a day.

Learn More

Over-The-Counter Eye Drop and Nasal Spray Danger

Here’s advice about seemingly harmless over-the-counter eye drops, such as Visine and similar products containing the active ingredients tetrahydrozoline, oxymetazoline, or naphazoline. These drugs are quite dangerous if ingested. Severe side effects have been documented after swallowing as little as a half of teaspoonful.

Learn More