OTC

Guided by Dr. Keval Trivedi, Professor, Community Pharmacy.

 ● Dave Shruti

● Desai Mansi

● Hiraniya Darshit

Presented ● Kadiya Kunjal

by ● Khatri Kayna

● Maske Jay

● Melaja Rakesh
Objectives
● Special patients group

● Types of OTC medications

● Patient counselling

● OTC counselling questions

Special Patient Groups:

Here are some special patient

groups that require consideration
in the market analysis of OTC
drugs:

● Pediatric patients: Children’s

OTC medications, such as
acetaminophen or
ibuprofen,require careful
dosing and formulation
Special Patients Group:

● Geriatric patients: Older adults

may experience age-related
health changes, requiring
tailored OTC products (e.g.,
easy-to-swallow formats).
● Pregnant or breastfeeding
women: OTC medications must
be safe for use during
pregnancy or breastfeeding,
with clear labeling and
guidance.
● Patients with chronic
conditions: Individuals with
conditions like diabetes,
hypertension, or kidney
Special Patients Group:

● Patients with chronic

conditions: Individuals with
conditions like diabetes,
hypertension, or kidney
disease may need specialized
OTC products.
● Immunocompromised
patients: Those with
weakened immune systems
(e.g., HIV/AIDS, cancer) may
require specific OTC
medications.
● Patients with disabilities: OTC
products should be accessible
and easy to use for individuals
Special Patients Group:

● Patients with rare diseases:

OTC medications may need
to be adapted for rare
conditions, requiring
specialized formulations or
dosing.

These special patient groups have unique needs and requirements that
must be considered in the development, marketing, and distribution of
OTC drugs.
Types of OTC Medications:

There are mainly 10 types of OTC

MEDICATIONS:

● Analgesics
● Antibiotics
● Cough suppressants
● Anti-acne drugs
Types of OTC medications:

● Antiseptics
● Decongestants
● Antacids
● Antifungals
● Antihistamines
● Smoking cessation drugs
Types of OTC Medications:

● Analgesics: Analgesics are medications

that relieve pain.
Examples : Aspirin,
ibuprofen, acetaminophen
● Topical Antibiotic: Topical antibiotics are
medicines applied
directly to the skin to kill bacteria. They are
used to prevent infections that occur on minor
cuts & burns.
Example : Soframycin
● Cough suppressants: Cough
Suppressants are medicines that prevent
or stop coughing. Cough expectorants
help in treating productive coughs.
Example : Dextromethorphan
Types of OTC Medications:

● Anti-acne drugs: OTC acne

products usually contain the
active ingredient salicylic
acid or benzoyl peroxide.
They also fight
inflammation.
Example : benzoyl
peroxide and adapalene.
● Antiseptics:The substances
that slow down the growth
or just stop the growth of
microorganisms are known
as antiseptics. It helps to
prevent infections in cuts,
scrapes, and burns.
Example: povidone-
Types of OTC Medications:

● Decongestant: Decongestants are a type

of medicine that can provide short-term
relief for a blocked stuffy nose (nasal
congestion).
Example: Astepro Nasal Spray
● Antacids: Antacids are medicines that
counteract (neutralise) the acid in your
stomach to relieve indigestion and
heartburn. They come as a liquid or
chewable tablets and can be bought
from pharmacies and shops without a
prescription.
Example: Calcium carbonate,
Magnesium hydroxide
Types of OTC Medications:

● AntiHistamines: Antihistamines are medicines

often used to relieve symptoms of allergies,
such as hay fever, hives, conjunctivitis and
reactions to insect bites or stings.
Example: Enadryl
(diphenhydramine),Claritin
(loratadine),Allegra (fexofenadine)
● Smoking Cessation Drug: Smoking cessation
drug means that drugs which are useful for
quit-smoking.Nicotine patches, gum, and
lozenges are the most common quit-smoking
medicines, and you can buy them without a
prescription (over-the-counter).
 OTC Patient Counselling:

Over-the-counter (OTC) medications are readily available to the

public, providing convenient access to self-treatment for a variety of
minor ailments. However, OTC medication use can come with risks
and potential complications, making patient counseling essential.
OTC Patient Counselling:

Common OTC Medications:

● Pain Relief: OTC analgesics like ibuprofen
and acetaminophen are commonly used
for headaches, muscle aches, and minor
injuries.
● Allergy Relief: Antihistamines, such as
loratadine and cetirizine, provide relief
from allergy symptoms like sneezing,
runny nose, and itchy eyes.
● Digestive Issues:Antacids, like Tums and
Pepto-Bismol, are popular for indigestion,
heartburn, and upset stomach.
● Cough & Cold Remedies:OTC cough
syrups, nasal sprays, and decongestants
are widely used to treat symptoms of the
OTC Patient Counselling:

Importance of Patient Education:

● Dosage:Patients need to understand the

correct dosage of OTC
medications, taking into account
their age, weight, and medical
conditions.

● Frequency:Knowing the appropriate

frequency of administration is
crucial to avoid overdosing or
under-treating symptoms.
OTC Patient Counselling:

Duration:Patients should be informed

about the recommended
duration of treatment to minimize
potential side effects.

Side Effects:Patients must be aware of

potential side effects, including
common and serious ones, to
monitor their health and seek
medical attention if needed.
OTC Patient Counselling:

Effective Communication Strategies:

● Active Listening:Pharmacists should pay close

attention to patients' concerns, questions, and
medical history to provide personalized
counseling.
● Clear Explanations:Information about the
medication, its purpose, and potential risks should
be conveyed in a clear and concise manner.
● Patient Questions:Pharmacists should encourage
patients to ask questions and address any doubts
or concerns they may have.
● Follow-Up:Pharmacists should follow up with
patients to ensure they understand the information
and to address any issues that may arise.
OTC Patient Counselling:

Identifying Potential Drug Interactions:

OTC Medications Potential Interactions

Ibuprofen Blood thinners, heart medications

Acetaminophen Alcohol, certain antibiotics

Cetirizine Sedatives, antidepressants

Famotidine Antibiotics, antifungals

OTC Patient Counselling:

Referral to Healthcare Providers:

● Severe Symptoms:For conditions that

worsen or persist despite OTC medication
use, referral to a doctor is essential.
● Underlying Medical Conditions:Patients
with pre-existing medical conditions may
require professional evaluation and
treatment for their ailments.
● Pregnancy or Breastfeeding:OTC
medications may pose risks to pregnant or
breastfeeding women, necessitating
medical advice.
 OTC Counselling Questions:
WHAT ARE OTC COUNSELING QUESTIONS?

● Over-the-counter counseling (or OTC counseling) refers to the

counseling that a pharmacist may provide on the subject of
initiating, modifying, or stopping an over-the-counter (OTC) drug
product. OTC counseling requires an assessment of the patient's
self-care concerns and drug-related needs.
OTC Counselling Questions:
● The aim of OTC counseling is to
empower patients to take control of their
healthcare-related needs for conditions
that do not require an appointment with
a medical doctor. This benefits the
healthcare system by reducing
unnecessary physician visits.
● The pharmacist can also use OTC
counseling to ensure the highest
likelihood of success for the patient's
self-care attempt and minimize the risk
of any drug-related problems.
OTC Counselling Questions:
IMPORTANCE OF OTC COUNSELING
QUESTIONS?

● Counseling patients about self-care and

nonprescription drugs is not the same and
cannot follow the same procedure as for
prescription drugs.

● That is why OTC counseling requires much

more exploratory open or close-ended
questions on the part of the pharmacist
which are especially useful to clarify
information gathered about the patient's
condition.
● It allows gathering the most abundant
WWHAM
Who For?
What symptoms?
How long have symptoms
been present?
Action already taken?
Other Medications?
OTC Counselling Questions:
TECHNIQUE FOR OTC COUNSELING:

These questions usually start with who, what,

how, why or where.
Examples:
● Which of the prescription medications do
you take on regular basis?
● Which of the nonprescription and herbal
medications do you use?
● What types of conditions do you routinely
see your doctor for?
Some other questions are also possible:
● Have you ever experienced any side effects
after taking the OTC medication?
● Have you taken this OTC medication
before?
OTC Counselling Questions:
QUESTIONS:

● In the previous slide, the image given is a shortcut to

remember about the OTC counseling questions.
● The mnemonic to be be remembered is WWHAM.
● The First W stands for who for which asks about the
patient information.
● The second W stands for information about the
symptoms of the patients.
● The H stands for duration of the symptoms being
experienced.
● The A stands for if any action has already been taken by
the patient.
● The M stands for information about any other
medication being consumed to
check for contraindications.
THANK
YOU