If the instructions with your over-the-counter or prescription medications are unclear, you may be in danger of using your medication improperly.

The perplexity poll, sponsored by Siegel & Gale, found that the majority of Lipitor users said the product information sheet provided useful information, but nearly half found it too complex. In fact, based on information contained in a package of Lipitor, consumers were asked how long they should wait to take the drug after eating a grapefruit. Over one third of them answered incorrectly. By the way, the correct answer is to wait at least an hour after eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice because the fruit lowers the effectiveness of many drugs.

Children’s Tylenol, which had received high marks for its labels, just issued a recall of some of its products because of confusing labels.

The answer for drug companies is to keep messages clear and simple so consumers using their products will be safer and healthier.