OTC products - A review

1. OTC products, their
problems and effects

2. All the drugs can broadly be classified
into:
PRESCRIPTION DRUGS
And
NON PRESCRIPTION DRUGS
(or the OTC products)

3. OTC means OVER THE COUNTER.
Over-the-counter (OTC) drugs are medicines
that may be sold directly to a consumer without
a prescription from a healthcare professional.
Source: U.S. Food and Drug Administration. What are over-the-counter (OTC) drugs
and how are they approved? 2012. Available
from: http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/InformationOnDrugs/ucm079436.htm.
While prescription for the sale of the
drugs require a prescription drug requires
a valid prescription
OTC means

4. The process of taking
medication on one’s own will
without the proper consultation
of the doctor or a pharmacist is
termed as Self-medication

5. The World Self Medication Industry
(WSMI) defines self medication as the
treatment of common health problems
with medicines especially designed and
labeled for use with out medical
supervision and approved as safe and
effective for such use

6. The options for self medication being either
substances previously developed to treat medical
conditions on prescription only
Substances developed for non prescription
treatment of medical conditions
Substances which are part of the informal or
traditional folk medical culture
Substances which are or have become part of the
recreational culture.

7. NO TIME TO SEE
A DOCTOR
INCREASED
AWARENESS
AMONG PIBLIC
HELL OF
INFORMATION
AWAILABLE ONLINE
INFORMATION
SHOWED ON
TELEVISION
DIFFERENT FACTORS LEADING TO SELF MEDICATION

8. OTC scenario in different countries
USA:
In the US, OTC products are regulated by the Federal
Drugs and Cosmetic Act Food and Drug Administration
(FDA). The FDA has created a OTC monograph system to
review the classes of drugs and categorize them as the
‚GRASE‛. GRASE means ‘generally recognize as safe and
effective’

9. UK:
In U.K. all the medical products are classified into
three main categories:
The Prescription Only Medication (POM)
Pharmacy-Only Medication (P)
General Sales List (GSL)

10. In a country like India, where the traditional
system of medicine is followed, like the
Ayurvedic System of medicine, some of the
medication containing the ingredients from the
plant sources can be registered as the OTC
products. They are regulated by the Drugs and
Cosmetics Act (1940) and Rules (1945).
Marketing of these medications doesn’t require a
license but the Manufacturer requires a
manufacturing license.

11. Different classes of OTC drugs
drugs used for
Heartburn and Acid
reflux
Antidiarrheal
Medicines
Antiemetic Medicines
Antihistamines
First-Generation
Antihistamines
Second-Generation
Antihistamines
Decongestants
Cough Medicine
Products for
Constipation
Herbal products and
supplements
oral contraceptives

12. Alcohol and OTC medicines
Alcohol and OTC drugs interacts in the following way
NSAID pain relievers along with alcohol increases the
risk of intestinal bleeding.
Acetaminophen along with alcohol may also increase
the risk of gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding
herbal supplements and antihistaminics and also
cough medicines can induce drowsiness when
consumed along with alcohol

13. People who have the following conditions are also at a
higher risk
 Asthma
 Bleeding disorders
 Blood clotting disorders
 Breathing problems
 Diabetes
 Enlarged prostate gland
 Epilepsy
 Glaucoma
 Gout
 Heart disease
 High blood pressure
 Immune system problems
 Kidney problems
 Liver problems
 Parkinson’s disease
 Psychiatric problems
 Thyroid problems

14. Self medication is not as safe as it is
anticipated and is not as safe as it is
expected. Many deaths were reported
because of Self medication.
Recently two deaths were reported owing to the use of
the OTC products these two deaths occurred with the
lack of awareness about the use of the OTC products.
The interesting fact is that in both the cases the two girls
consumed the medication for the simple headaches and
common cold. However, these two cases have put fourth
a debate on the safety of the OTC products, most of
which contain the ingredients that were banned in the
developed countries

15. Be ware when
purchasing medicine
online

16. ALWAYS HAVE A
THOUGH
KNOWLEDGE ON THE
MEDICATION YOU
TAKE

17. READ THE LABLE OR THE
DRUG FACTS WHILE YOU
CHOOSE TPO SELF
MEDICATE

18. TREAT THE SPECIFIC SYMPTOMS WITH A SPECIFIC
MEDCINE
It is always safe to use a single drug to cure the symptoms
observed, instead of going for a combination medication
that may be used for different symptoms
For Example, its better to treat the fever only with a
Paracetamol rather than taking a combination
medicine that can cure both the head ache and cold like
Vicks action 500

19. THANQ