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

doi:10.1136/bmj.330.7496.904-c

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Patrick W Sullivan (Patrick.Sullivan@UCHSC.edu), 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

EDITOR—Cohen et al say that switching drugs to over the counter increases costs for most insured patients in the United States because of resultant changes in drug benefits.1 Most health plans restrict drug coverage and increase copayments when one member of the class is made available over the counter. However, evidence from recent switches from prescription to over the counter shows that …