Switching prescription drugs to over the counter: Consumers may benefit financially in examples from the US

doi:10.1136/bmj.330.7496.904-c

BMJ 2005;330:904-905 (16 April), doi:10.1136/bmj.330.7496.904-c

Letter

Switching prescription drugs to over the counter

Consumers may benefit financially in examples from the US

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

EDITOR—Cohen et al say that switching drugs to over thecounter increases costs for most insured patients in the UnitedStates because of resultant changes in drug benefits.¹ Mosthealth plans restrict drug coverage and increase copaymentswhen one member of the class is made available over the counter.However, evidence from recent switches from prescription toover the counter shows that patients benefit financially despitesuch restrictions and increased copayments.

Credit: TIM BOYLE/GETTY IMAGES

The switch of loratadine has been shown to be cost effectivefor consumers, insurers, and society.^2
3 An examination of theaverage out of pocket cost for second generation antihistaminesshows that health plan members paid less for loratadine afterit was made available over the counter. Previously at leastone second generation antihistamine was available through mosthealth plans as a preferred brand product, with a copaymentof some $17 (£8.99; ${euro}$ 13.11) per . . . [Full text of this article]

Patrick W Sullivan, assistant professor, school of pharmacy

Pharmaceutical Outcomes Research Program, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, 4200 East Ninth Avenue, Box C238, Denver, CO 80262, USA Patrick.Sullivan@UCHSC.edu

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Switching prescription drugs to over the counter: Joshua P Cohen, Cherie Paquette, and Catherine P Cairns
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