Over-the-Counter Drugs (OTC) Introduction
Over-the-counter drugs refer to drugs that are for the convenience of the public and, on the premise of ensuring drug safety, are prescribed or approved by the national health administration department and do not require a physician or other Medicines that can be purchased by medical professionals with prescriptions can be used by the general public based on their own judgment and in accordance with the drug labels and instructions for use. Over-the-counter drugs are also called over the counter drugs in the United States, or OTC drugs for short. Most of these drugs are used for self-diagnosis and treatment of common common diseases, such as colds, coughs, indigestion, headaches, fever, etc. In order to ensure people's health, warnings are included in the packaging labels and instructions for use of over-the-counter drugs in my country, clearly stipulating the use time and course of treatment, and emphasizing that "if symptoms are not relieved or disappear, you should consult a doctor."
Over-the-counter drugs were transformed from prescription drugs. They are drugs that have been used for a long time, are confirmed to be effective, have stable quality, and can be used safely by non-medical professionals. However, among over-the-counter drugs, there are more detailed classifications. Those with white letters on a red background are Category A, and those with white letters on a green background are Category B. Although both Category A and B OTC drugs can be purchased in pharmacies, Category B OTC drugs are safer. In addition to being sold in pharmacies, Class B over-the-counter drugs can also be sold in supermarkets, hotels, department stores, etc. However, since my country has established a drug classification management system not long ago, Class B over-the-counter drugs are not currently available. According to national regulations, all drugs are currently managed as Class A over-the-counter drugs. Therefore, you must not take over-the-counter medicines casually, and it is best to consult your doctor in advance.
Any drug has toxic and side effects, but the degree is different. Over-the-counter drugs are relatively safe. If the cause of the disease is unknown and the condition is unclear, it is best not to use over-the-counter medicines. If the medication is not effective or there are signs of aggravation of the condition, or even rash, itching, high fever, asthma and other abnormal phenomena, the medication should be stopped immediately and go to the hospital for diagnosis and treatment.
my country's first batch of over-the-counter Western medicines include 165 varieties in 23 categories, and there are 160 varieties of Chinese patent medicines, but each type of medicine contains different dosage forms.
The difference between over-the-counter drugs and prescription drugs
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1. Brands, logos, labels and terms containing OTC guidance
Internationally, over-the-counter drugs have their own unique symbols in terms of brands and logos. For example, brands should try their best to unify them, and at the same time pay attention to continuous innovation to increase visibility so that they can be sold in chain stores, and at the same time use the brand as a measure to protect their own products. The label should be able to clearly distinguish whether the drug is used as a prescription drug or an over-the-counter drug. For example, prescription drugs in the United States must be marked with "Federal Law Prohibits Dispensing Without Prescription", while the label of over-the-counter drugs should be "Intended for use." "Adequate Direction for use" (Adequate Direction for use), the UK, Germany, Japan and other countries also have similar words or logos. Inspection labels should be expressed in words that normal people can understand, and even illustrated, so that consumers can use over-the-counter drugs correctly based on the labels.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration proposes 7 items for OTC drug labels: (1) product name; (2) name and address of manufacturer, packager or distributor; (3) packaging contents Drugs; (4) INN (International Generic Name) names of all active ingredients; (5) Contents of certain other components such as ethanol, alkaloids, etc.; (6) Precautions and advisory content to protect consumers ; (7) Proper medication guidance for safe and correct use of the drug.
Therefore, when people identify over-the-counter drugs, they can generally identify them from their brands, logos, labels, and terms containing OTC guidance. ?
2. Advertising
All countries in the world that implement classified management systems for prescription drugs and over-the-counter drugs strictly stipulate that prescription drugs are not allowed to be advertised to the public, but their product information is allowed to be used in medicine. Disseminated in industrial academic journals.
Our country stipulates: "Prescription drugs are only allowed to be advertised in professional medical newspapers and periodicals, and over-the-counter drugs can be advertised in mass media with approval." Other countries also have different restrictions on public advertising of over-the-counter drugs, such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Countries such as Germany and New Zealand allow the advertising of over-the-counter drugs, while Italy, Spain, France and other countries do not allow advertising for reimbursable over-the-counter drugs and over-the-counter drugs using prescription drug brands. Other than these, over-the-counter drugs require a certificate of approval before advertising. Recently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration allowed television advertisements for prescription drugs, but only if they included the phrase "the drug is under the supervision of a physician or pharmacist."
3. Pay attention to changes in the over-the-counter drug catalog
After the implementation of the over-the-counter drug regulations, they will not be static. They will be re-evaluated every 3 to 5 years to introduce the old and bring out the new, and the survival of the fittest to ensure the effectiveness of OTC. sex and safety. With the development of medical technology, a large number of new drugs are on the market, and the understanding of each OTC is also deepening. Some prescription drugs are unlikely to become over-the-counter drugs, but they may become OTC after changing the dosage form or reducing the dosage, that is, It is said that over-the-counter drugs with better performance, safer and more effective will be added, and some outdated over-the-counter drugs will be eliminated. For example, the main categories of OTC in the world are as follows: antipyretic and analgesic drugs, antitussive and anti-cold drugs, digestive system drugs, and skin care drugs. Disease medicines, tonics, vitamins, trace elements and additives. The following categories of drugs may be converted and marketed as OTC: antiasthmatic drugs, oral contraceptives, muscle relaxants, cardiovascular drugs (excluding calcium antagonists) and anti-infective drugs.