Switching prescription drugs to over the counter: Chicken and egg scenario is possible

doi:10.1136/bmj.330.7496.905

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Magnus Hird (Magnus.hird@blueyonder.co.uk), pharmacist practitioner

Bloomfield Medical Centre, Blackpool FY1 6JW

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? …