Healthy Skepticism Library item: 8870

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

Publication type: Journal Article

Decristoforo R, Fortner CL.
Review of potential drug interactions between OTC (over-the-counter) and prescription drugs
Hosp Formul Manage 1974 Apr; 10:20-31, 41

Abstract:

Four known basic mechanisms of drug interactions, namely alteration of absorption, distribution, metabolism, or excretion of one drug by another, are discussed in terms of significance of the interaction and listed in tabular form. It is stated that potential interactions between prescription drugs and OTC drugs may be of real importance because many patients, as well as physicians, do not consider OTC drugs as having much significance when compared to prescription drugs. The importance of these potential interactions becomes clear when one considers the massive OTC drug advertising which promotes selfmedication among the lay public. It is suggested that an important step in preventing these drug interactions may be to limit the sales of OTC drugs to pharmacies, and, in addition, sales should probably be made only by a pharmacist.