OTCs

Question 1

Prescription vs OTC drugs?

Answer 1

Both regulated by FDA

a. Prescription: Prescribed by doc/NP and obtained at pharmacy; prescribed for use by one person; regulated by FDA
b. OTC: do NOT require doc’s prescription (self-assessment/dx); bought off the shelf at stores; regulated by FDA via OTC Drug Monographs

Question 2

Benefits and Risks of OTC drugs?

Answer 2

Benefits: improved access to effective drugs, clinical outcomes, and public health; enhanced consumer involvement in health; cheaper than prescriptions

Risks: inappropriate drug selection; accidental ingestion/misuse; intentional misuse/abuse/OD; worsened outcomes due to self-mgmt

Question 3

Purpose of OTC drugs?

Answer 3

No longer just palliative (relieve sx), but now to CURE/TREAT illness

Question 4

The key to successful use of OTC agents? Barrier to this?

Answer 4

Key = correct product selection

Barrier: difficult to correctly self-dx (recognize sx, judge severity, choose/assess treatment options)

Question 5

Who determines if drug should be OTC? Current OTC numbers?

Answer 5

FDA decides if drug is safe enough for direct OTC selling.
60% of US drugs are OTC.
Due to increased aging population, OTC use will increase further, increasing the need to be informed about self-care