INNOVATIONS in pharmacy

Potential Rx-to-OTC Switch Drug Candidates

Victor Phan

Albert Wertheimer

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24926/iip.v7i1.414

Keywords: Rx, prescription, OTC, switch, self-medication

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to gain insight in what Rx legend drugs pharmacists think have a good enough safety profile to sell as OTC and, if any, what OTC drugs pharmacists think should be legend only. This study was performed as a non-directional survey asking the 2 following questions: “What are some prescription only medications that you think would be okay to sell as nonprescription (over-the-counter and behind the counter)” and following that “If any, what are some OTC/BTC medications that you think should be prescription only?” Pharmacists who were surveyed were those in the Philadelphia area within convenient traveling distance or whose contact information was available or accessible. There were three modes of collecting data. The first method was traveling to pharmacies in person and giving the pharmacist a physical survey to complete. The second method was the creation of a survey monkey, identical to the physical survey, which was sent electronically via email, text, or Facebook. The third method was telephoning pharmacies and conducting the survey over the phone. Demographics of respondents’ age range, education, area of work, and gender were collected. All methods were done as similarly as possible; with the same greeting and wording of questions, etc. Data analysis was done based on noticeable trends of answers and tallying frequencies of responses. In all, 101 pharmacists were contacted. The most common suggestion for Rx-to-OTC switch was oral contraceptives.

 

Type: Student Project