PRESCRIPTION- NON

PRESCRIPTION PRODUCTS

Hitanxi Vyas (19-35)

Paridhi Trivedi (19-33)
Pharm D 3rd year
 INTRODUCTION

• Medication include over- the- counter drugs (OTC) as well as

prescription drugs.
• People often thinks drugs that do not require doctor’s prescription
cannot be harmful.
• OTC drugs also can create a problem if not used in right way or
sometimes if used at the same time as prescription medication.
• Because OTC drugs are used so frequently and can have harmful
effects, it is important to know the difference between Prescription
and non prescription (OTC) drugs.
 CONT.

• There is no such definition of prescription and non prescription drugs

under Drugs and cosmetics act 1940.
• There is a definition of prescription under Rule 65(10) of Drugs and
cosmetics rules 1945, and according to this Prescription shall:-
1. Be in writing and be signed by the person giving it with his usual signature
and be dated by him.
2. Specify name and address of person for whose treatment it is given, or
name and address of owner of animal if drug is ment for veternary use
3. Indicate total amount of medicine to be supplied and dose to be taken.
 PRESCRIPTION DRUGS

• Substance specified in Schedule H or Schedule X shall not sold by

retail without the prescription of a Registered medical practitioner.
• Require a written order or prescription from a Physician, Dentist or
nurse practitioner. This prescription tells a pharmacist to dispense a
perticular medication.
• These drugs are prescribed to treat a specific Medical problem.
 CONT.

• Drugs are controlled with prescription if they are:

1. Habit forming.
2. Not safe for self medication.
3. Intended to treat aliments that require the supervision of a health
professional.
4. New and without established safe track record.
 NON- PRESCRIPTION DRUGS

• All OTC products are non prescription.

• ‘OTC Drugs’ means drugs legally allowed to sold over the counter by
pharmacist.
• OTC drugs are those available without a prescription.
• These are intended for things patients can treat with self care.
• These are often considered safe if warning and directions are followed.
OTC DRUGS CATEGORIES
 CONT.

• Headache, cold- cough and acidity are the most common aliments for
which Patient’s prefer taking an OTC drugs.
 OVER THE COUNTER MARKETS IN
INDIA

• For a country where only 35% of the population have access to, and use modern
medicines, the practice of self medication is very common.
• In urban areas the first line of treatment, even for infections with common
antibiotics, is often through self medication.
• The trade, particularly the retail outlets, encourage this practice and often make
prescription drugs as readily available as OTC drugs.
• A 1997 study on self medication habits and practices has been carried out by Dun
and Bradstreet Marketing Research Advisory Services (DBMRAS) in
metro-cities, mini-metros, class 1 and class 2 towns.
• The study revealed that there are 36 alimens where self medication is employed -
fever and pain, having the maximum potential.
 CONT.

• Generally, non- schedule H drugs do not carry a label stating that they should be
sold on the prescription of a medical practitioner, and have the symbol Rx written
on them.
• These are not covered within the purview of the Narcotics drugs and
Psychotropic Substance Act 1985, are deemed to be OTC drugs.
• OTC drug market in India ranks 11th in global OTC market and is expected to
reach the 9th position within the next 5 years.
• The Indian OTC market is estimated to be worth $19 billion with annual growth
rate of 23%.
• An estimated 3 out of 4 people routinely self medicate with these drug products.
 FACTS ABOUT NON- PRESCRIPTION
PRODUCTS

• In a study conducted by National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad,

on drug consumption patterns (1996), it was estimated that 50% of
medicines are sold in India without a doctor’s prescription.
• Among the prescription items, antibiotics accounted for 22% of total
prescriptions, followed by nutritional products (19-20%) analgesics,
antipyretics and anti- inflammatories.
• Consumption of broad spectrum antibiotics almost doubled during
1986-1994, with earlier antibiotics being replaced by newer more
expensive ones.
 CONT.

• Thus, the practice of self medication, often assisted by the retail

pharmacists, with schedule H (prescription) drugs is rampant.
• The practice of retaining prescription after dispensing prescribed
drugs is also uncommon.
• Consequently, getting a repeat prescription without seeing a doctor is
routine.
• OTC products and their routine use are most common in areas
where a specific disease is chronic in nature and not amenable to
precise diagnosis or therapy with modern medicines.
 OTC MEDICATION ARE SAFE BUT
NOT RISK-FREE..

As with all medications, there can be risks with use.

The risks of OTC use include:
• Delay in seeking medical advice for a serious illness.
• Risk of drug- drug/ herbal/ dietary supplement interactions.
• Risk of adverse events.
• Potential for dependance, missuse and abuse.
 IN WHAT WAY THE OTC DRUGS CAN
BE HARMFUL..

• OTC drugs can change the effect of prescription medication.

• OTC drugs can mask symptoms of disease.
• OTC drugs can lead to overdose.
• If misused even common over-the-counter drugs, such as aspirin,
vitamins or cold remedies can be harmful.
 MISUSE & ABUSE

• Recent survey have reported that:

1. It has been found that only 16% reads the entire product label.
2. If they read them, thay do not follow the directions on the label.
3. Abuse is most common in adolescents aged (10-17 years).
4. Adolescents are 18% times more likely to dies from an OTC
overdose than from illicit drug dose.
 CONCLUSION

• Overall we can conclude that both OTC as well as prescription drugs

have equal importance, both having advantages and at the same time
disadvantages also.
• Though safety margin of prescribed drugs is more, OTC drugs can
not be labelled unsafe due to thier large occupancy in the market &
most of the revenue is generated through OTC drugs as comparative
to prescribed drugs are under physician supervision, hence there are
low chances of toxicity.
• OTC drugs does not provide that much safety, hence we can’t take
either of the side.