Over the Counter Over the Counter RemediesRemedies

JotsJots

GP researchGP research Approximately what percentage of your total time is spent in Approximately what percentage of your total time is spent in

consultation with your patients with minor aliments?consultation with your patients with minor aliments?

34%34%

In general what action do you usually take when presented with a In general what action do you usually take when presented with a patient with minor aliments who didn’t require a prescription?patient with minor aliments who didn’t require a prescription? Encourage them to look after their condition themselves at homeEncourage them to look after their condition themselves at home

61%61% Recommend a particular OTC medicine myselfRecommend a particular OTC medicine myself 41%41% Advised them to do nothing as condition will normally heal itself Advised them to do nothing as condition will normally heal itself

33%33% Recommend they visit a retail pharmacist for adviceRecommend they visit a retail pharmacist for advice

20%20% Give them a prescription as well as advise or recommendation Give them a prescription as well as advise or recommendation

7%7% Recommend they see my practise nurse for adviceRecommend they see my practise nurse for advice

3%3%

POMPOM

PP denotes pharmacy only and can onlydenotes pharmacy only and can onlybe supplied under the pharmacist be supplied under the pharmacist

supervisionsupervision

Not as good if not on prescriptionNot as good if not on prescription

Pharmacy is a 4yr course Pharmacy is a 4yr course

Pharmacy is a businessPharmacy is a business

Prescription charge per item Prescription charge per item £ 6.85 (going up in April!)£ 6.85 (going up in April!)

AllergyAllergy ORAL ANTIHISTAMINESORAL ANTIHISTAMINES

BenadrylBenadryl (allergy relief, one a day relief)(allergy relief, one a day relief)

ClaritynClaritynZirtekZirtekPiritonPiriton‘‘brand names’ –misunderstanding, more brand names’ –misunderstanding, more expensive!expensive!

NASAL SPRAYS/DROPSNASAL SPRAYS/DROPSOtrivine Otrivine BeconaseBeconaseFlixonaseFlixonase

ORAL ANALGESIAORAL ANALGESIA DisprinDisprin AnadinAnadin CuprofenCuprofen Nurofen Nurofen PanadolPanadol SolpedineSolpedine ParacodolParacodol CalprofenCalprofen MedinolMedinol MedisedMedised MigraleveMigraleve ParamolParamol ‘‘plus, extra, max’plus, extra, max’

GastroGastro Variety of antacidsVariety of antacids - majority not P - majority not P

medicinesmedicines Gavilast/Zantac Gavilast/Zantac ZanprolZanprol MotiliumMotilium

Buscopan Buscopan ColofacColofac Fybogel MebeverineFybogel Mebeverine Peppermint oil Peppermint oil Imodium Imodium

Cough MedicineCough Medicine

ExpectorantsExpectorants guaifenesinguaifenesin

phenylephrine Hclphenylephrine Hcl Suppressants (linctus)Suppressants (linctus) pholcodeinepholcodeine

dextromethorphandextromethorphan Added ingredientsAdded ingredients antihistaminesantihistamines

decongestnatsdecongestnats

analgesiaanalgesia

Emergency Emergency ContraceptionContraception

Levonelle one stepLevonelle one step Within 72hrsWithin 72hrs Patient group directivePatient group directive £22.35 £22.35 Useful?Useful?

Smoking cessation Smoking cessation

Trained pharmacistsTrained pharmacists Regular reviews with monitoringRegular reviews with monitoring Free NRTFree NRT Suggest Zyban/ChampixSuggest Zyban/Champix

Odd bits!Odd bits! Simvastatin 10mgSimvastatin 10mg Ranitidine 75mgRanitidine 75mg Mouth ulcers Mouth ulcers AntimalarialsAntimalarials ChloramphenicolChloramphenicol Hair loss Hair loss Threadworms!Threadworms! Cystitis remediesCystitis remedies Irritating common alimentsIrritating common aliments

The FutureThe Future

Oral ContraceptionOral Contraception TrimethoprinTrimethoprin Azithromycin for ChlamydiaAzithromycin for Chlamydia

Take Home MessagesTake Home Messages Always consider OTC remediesAlways consider OTC remedies

Encourage patients to see their Encourage patients to see their pharmacist first for minor aliments pharmacist first for minor aliments

Always suggest medications generically Always suggest medications generically eg not NUROFEN!eg not NUROFEN!

Get your hand on a ‘Guide to OTC’Get your hand on a ‘Guide to OTC’