BMJ  2005;330:905 (16 April), doi:10.1136/bmj.330.7496.905

Letter

Switching prescription drugs to over the counter

Chicken and egg scenario is possible

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

EDITOR—Cohen et al suggest that prescription drugs become candidates for switching to being available over the counter if they meet three criteria: use for non-chronic conditions, easy to self diagnose, low potential for misuse.¹ Whether this is the policy of drug regulators is unclear.

Perhaps this view is drawn from examination of current over the counter products? Drugs available over the counter generally meet these criteria; therefore they must be the basis for approving switches. Could this be a chicken and egg scenario?

Most switches are instigated by the manufacturers to generate profits. This requires a potential market for the switched drug, which itself relies on consumers recognising the need for the drug and being motivated to buy it. People less involved in their own health might not see the need for preventive drugs, making switching likely to fail owing to poor sales. So the manufacturers never apply . . . [Full text of this article]

Bloomfield Medical Centre, Blackpool FY1 6JW Magnus.hird@blueyonder.co.uk

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Relevant Article

Switching prescription drugs to over the counter

Joshua P Cohen, Cherie Paquette, and Catherine P Cairns
BMJ 2005 330: 39-41. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Vamvakopoulos, J. E, Kountouri, M., Marshall, T., Greenfield, S. M (2008). Lifestyle or Life-Saving Medicines? A Primary Healthcare Professional and Consumer Opinion Survey on Over-the-Counter Statins. The Annals of Pharmacotherapy 42: 413-420 [Abstract] [Full text]  
• Gotto, A. M. Jr (2006). Over-The-Counter Statins Are Worth Considering in Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease. Circulation 114: 1310-1314 [Full text]  

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