When the doctor wants us to take a certain drug, he provides us with a prescription, which we take to the pharmacist to fill.
When we decide on our own to take a drug, we go to the pharmacy to purchase it. It’s considered “over the counter” (OTC) because it’s sitting on a shelf, available to anyone who wants to purchase it. You may remember about a year ago finding fairly empty shelves in the cold and flu section…. it’s because there was an ingredient in those medicines that was being abused.
So now it looks like there may be a new, more formal designation for “behind the counter” (BTC) drugs — meaning — you won’t need a prescription, but you can’t just pick them up off a shelf either. If you want to purchase one of them, you’ll have to ask the pharmacist for permission. That’s what happened to those cold medicines last year. (And I think I remember in my youth (!) that condoms and pregnancy tests were kept there, too?)
The Food and Drug Administration is taking comments on this concept — they want to know what we think about the concept of behind the counter drugs. The drugs in question could range from some of the statins (cholesterol reducers like Lipitor), those cold medicines I mentioned above, insulin, even Viagra might end up BTC.
A bit of background research tells me that locally based pharmacies think it’s a great idea — no doubt it’s the trust factor. Patients, in particular those without health insurance, think it’s a good idea. Big box pharmacies are afraid of the logistics. OTC manufacturers whose drugs would end up BTC aren’t happy at all. Doctors don’t like the idea because it takes some prescribing out of their control.
Learn more about the pros and cons and other’s opinions at Pharmalot.
What do you think? Let the FDA know: http://www.fda.gov/oc/op/btc/
This is your chance to be heard!
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