OTC MEDICATION
- 4. Self medication Is the selection and usage of the medicines by individual to treat the self recognized minor ailments or symptoms. Self medication is the age old practice all over the world WHO promotes the practices of the self- medication for effective and quick relief of symptoms where medical services are inaccessible in rural remote areas. Self medication widely practiced in both developed and developing countries. OTC are approved for the being safe for self medication by national drug regulatory authority for prevention and treatment of minor ailments
- 5. MERITS AND DEMERITS OF OTC DRUGS Merits Demerits OTC medicines are considered to be safe and effective in minor ailments It is most convenient for a patient to procure No need to visit physician and in turn, patient can save consultation time and charges OTC medicines are comparatively cheaper than prescription drugs Pharmacist can dispense these medicines with out prescription OTC medicines can promote practice of self medication, which may be dangerous. Ex- NSAIDS Unregulated advertisement of OTC medicines can promote irrational use of OTC drugs Ex- Disprin
- 7. Banned OTC Drugs 1. The government has banned the pediatrics use of the common fever and pain drug Nimesulide for its adverse effects on the liver, 2. the decision was taken by the Union health ministry after experts on the Drug Technical Advisory Board recommended banning the drug along with five others 3. Phenylpropanolamine, used in cough syrups, increases the risk of strokes 4. India has banned cough syrups containing the painkiller codeine because of concern about misuse and addiction, 5. India. Bangladesh bans heartburn drug ranitidine over cancer fears after U.S. FDA issues warning
- 21. Role of community pharmacist in OTC medication Community pharmacist should take complete responsibility of outcome of OTC medication he should ensure the needof the OTC medication for a particular patient. For this purpose enquiring patient about his illness and maintaining patient medication record are best approaches. The role and responsibilities as follows 1. A community pharmacist may apply WWHAM process for evaluation of the need of OTC by a patients. W, who is patient W , what are the symptoms H, how long have the symptoms been present A, action taken so far M, medication being taken
- 22. This process of evaluation will clarify following a) age and past medication history b) Nature and duration of action signs and symptoms c) Any medication is taken by patient and its out come d) Presence of co- diseases and use of any prescription medicines e) Presence of known contraindications and precautions 2 he should take special precautions for children, elderly and pregnant or breast feeding mothers, 3. He should apply his ethics, technical knowledge, and expertise for selection of right OTC medicines
- 23. 4 He should initiate the non pharmacological management for mild symptoms 5 He should educate and counsel people regarding safe use of medicines.
- 24. Schedule K drugs Except for few drugs that prescribed under the schedule K of D&C act 1945, all the legal right for dispensing of medicine remains with community pharmacists. Few of the drugs listed in schedule K are allowed to be sold in non-drug licensed stores as household remedies in villages whose population is less than 1000 subjects to certain other conditions. These include pain balms lotions and oils of external use paracetamol aspirin and antacids
- 25. NSAIDS ASCORIL SYRP DIGEN SUSP AZITROMYCIN NISE TAB CIMITIDINE PCM ASPIRIN MARPHINE COREX SYRP BROFEN ANTI BIOTICS CHRONIC PAIN ANTI-TUSSIVES ANTACID COUGH FOR PAIN AS ANTACID CHRONIC FEVER PREGNANT PREGNANT COUGH PAIN INFECTIONS