OTC DRUGS (OVER THE COUNTER)

OTC DRUGS - OVER THE COUNTER , AND ALSO CALLED AS NON- PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.



REFERENCE: [email protected]

1. PRESENTED BY NIVEDHITHA.V I-M.Sc., BOTANY BDU OTC DRUG REVIEW

2. CONTENT What are OTC drugs? Prescription & Non- prescription drugs Types of OTC drugs OTC drugs used for different ailments Are OTC drugs are safe & effective? Side effects of OTC drugs Advantages & Disadvantages of OTC drugs Most commonly used OTC drugs Examples of some OTC drugs OTC drug reference

3. WHAT ARE OTC DRUGS ? Drugs that are safe and effective for use by the general public without a prescription are defined as over-the-counter (OTC) drugs. Some OTC medicines relieve aches, pains and itches. Some prevent or cure diseases like tooth decay and athelete ‘s foot.

4. prescription & non-prescription drugs Here, drugs are classified as prescription drugs and OTC drugs( non - prescripted drugs). There are currently 10,000 prescription products were sold in US.

5. Prescription drugs are available only by recommendation of an authorized health, such as physician. Non-prescription drugs are also available other than the pharmacies , do not require approval by the physicians. Prescription and OTC drugs have been viewed differently by the public since the classification were established by Durham-Humphrey Amendment of 1951. Generally, the Public views OTC drugs as minimally effective and safe & prescription drugs as more potent and frequent dangerous.

6. TYPES OF OTC DRUGS Internal analgesics - Analgesics - Salicylates Therapeutic considerations - Analgesic actions - Anti-inflammatory effects - Antipyretic effects -Side effects

7. OTC DRUGS INCLUDES ….. Gastro-intestinal products Eye and ear care Cough, cold and allergies Skin care Aches and pains Gynecological products Vitamins and Minerals Fever preparations

8. Are OTC (over the counter) drugs safe & effective? YES ! OTC drugs are approved by the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) & have proven to be safe and effective. However , as recently as 1992, the FDA has banned over 400 ingredients from 7 categories of OTC products.

9. Side effects of OTC (Medicines) Nausea Vomiting Diarrhea Dizziness Drowsiness

10. ADVANTAGES The use of OTC drugs allows the patient to have greater access to a variety of drugs available in the market to treat some medicinal conditions. Low misuse Self – treat Self – manage Health practioners are not needed.

11. DISADVANTAGES Poorer compliance More difficult to study a drug’s effects Misdiagnosis occurs.

12. MOST COMMONLY OTC DRUGS ARE USED FOR : Pain (78%) Cough ,cold and sinus (52%) Heartburn, stomach (45%) Constipation, diarrhea (37%) Skin Problems (10%)

13. SOME EXAMPLES FOR OTC DRUGS : Guaifenesin : Helps break up mucus. Drink lots of fluids if you take this medicine. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) help reduce   fever  in children and adults. Antihistamines taken by mouth: May help with itching or if you have allergies . Decongestants help clear a runny nose and relieve postnasal drip ( Afrin, Neo- Synephrine Nighttime, Sinex Spray ). Antihistamines that cause little or no sleepiness: Loratadine ( Alavert , Claritin, Dimetapp ND); fexofenadine ; cetirizine ( Zyrtec ).

14. OTC DRUG REFERENCE The list of approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence evaluations in Orange book . It is supposed to use in pharmacy all the time in the US.