OTC

Campaign aims to simplify OTC drug labels

Americans buy about five billion over-the-counter drugs each year to treat routine health problems. The number has increased as more and more drugs have made the switch from prescription to over-the-counter status. But many Americans, particularly senior citizens, misuse over-the-counter drugs because the lettering is too small. Consumers have also complained that words like "indications,...

Panel suggests selling allergy drugs OTC

An advisory committee to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommended that three popular allergy drugs are safe enough to be used without a prescription. The FDA does not have to follow the advice of its advisory committee, though it usually does. There is no deadline for making a decision. // "Drugs are prescription for a reason. They have the ability to do both good and harm. C...

Mutations in NOTCH1 cause an early developmental defect in the aortic valve

Dr. Srivastava and his colleagues of UT Southwestern Medical Center of Dallas// discovered that the mutation in a gene NOTCH1 is responsible for aortic valve disease. Aortic valve disease is a common heart birth defect which causes adult heart disease. The study was done in five generations of a Dallas family; the researchers studied the DNA mutations in all the 11 members of the family...

Combing Hair More Effective Than OTC Medicine For Head Lice

Researchers have shown that fine combing of wet hair may be far more effective treatment of head //lice than over-the-counter (OTC) treatment. Researchers have used single blind randomized controlled trial for comparing the Bug Buster kit with over the counter insecticide treatments against head lice in United Kingdom. Fine combing of wet hair is far more effective than curre...

Botched Abortions Trigger Concern Over Legal Ambiguity In Britain

In a shocking revelation, a recent survey by the Confidential Enquiry into Maternal and Child Health (CEMACH) indicates that there are at least 50 cases // a year nationwide in which babies survive abortion attempts. The systematic investigation by CEMACH, which monitors pregnancy deaths on behalf of Britain's six royal colleges of medicine, comes amid growing discomfort among clinici...

Queensland Bans OTC Sales Of Cold And Flu Drugs

Health Minister Stephen Robertson announced that cold and flu drugs containing pseudoephedrine will be banned from being sold over the counter in an effort to limit illegal manufacturing of such drugs. // This new rule is set to come into effect from January 1 in Queensland. Pharmacists have been asked to ensure that unknown and frequent buyers are thoroughly questioned in order to find...

OTC sale for Xenical; Diet Drug; gets FDA approval

Prescription diet drug Xenical manufactured by GlaxoSmithkline got a nod for OTC sale from FDA.It received an "approvable" letter from the Food// and Drug Administration so that it can be marketed once the company addresses additional questions from regulators. An estimated arrival time for the sale is early next year. It would become the first F.D.A.-approved weight-loss product sold...

Lancet Urges To Allow Emergency Contraception Drug As An OTC

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration authority is under pressure as it has been urged to make emergency contraception drug as an over-the counter drug//. Andrew von Eschenbach, acting Commissioner of the FDA has been urged to take an independent, non-biased decision on Barr Pharmaceuticals Inc's bid to sell its morning after pill or Plan B without a medical prescription. Plan...

Allergy OTC Medicines–Speak With Your Pharmacis

For allergy sufferers, the fall season can be just as bad as the spring. A quick trip to the pharmacy for an over-the-counter (OTC) medicine; however, can quickly becoming an// overwhelming experience. “Individuals are faced with shelf after shelf of products that often times have very similar names,” noted Dr. Daniel A. Hussar, Remington professor of pharmacy of the Philadelphia Coll...

Judicial Probe Ordered for Botched Eye Surgery Camp

The Assam government Friday ordered a judicial probe to investigate a botched cataract surgery camp at the Guwahati Medical College in which 38 people were blinded.// Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the enquiry would be conducted by a retired judge of the Gauhati High Court and was expected to submit the report in three months. "We are taking the issue very seriou...

Viagra to Be an OTC Drug Soon

It appears a gift for those burdened with shyness and impotence, and maybe those who ‘just don’t have the time’- to see// a doctor. Boots Pharmacy, UK has announced moves to include Viagra- the hope of 3 million men suffering from erectile dysfunction in UK alone, in its list of those drugs that can be sold over the counter (OTC). Other such drugs sold by Boots without the...

Experts Critical of a New OTC Product to Treat Psoriasis

Psoriasis is marked by scaly, itchy, occasionally painful rashes. Prescription medications including steroid creams that ease inflammation are far from perfect. When over five million Americans suffer from that skin condition, any claims of permanent cure, can evoke frenzied response, especially when backed by some kind of evidence.And that is what is happening to Skin Zinc, even...