Category Archives: OTC Switches

What Does an Evolving OTC Environment Mean?

Once upon a time, it was quite common for drugs to switch their status from prescription to over-the-counter (OTC) making them much more accessible to people by means of ability to purchase and cost.  Allergy medications and heartburn treatments saw … Continue reading

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Are OTCs Just O – as in Over?

In the 1990s the number of drugs that switched from Rx status to Over-the-Counter (OTC) was quite high and the Non-prescription Drugs Advisory Committee (NDAC) was having a lot of meetings to consider switches of several heartburn remedies, allergy medications … Continue reading

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Another OTC Attempt for Mevacor

In July of 2000, two companies tried to take statins from RX to OTC.  The first was Bristol Myers Squibb attempting to switch Pravachol and the other was Merck trying to switch Mevacor.  Today, there is a Federal Register notice … Continue reading

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Adverse Events Reporting on OTCs and Supplements

As reported earlier this week, S.3546 – the Dietary and Supplement and Nonprescription Drug Consumer Act was passed by the Senate on December 6.  Subsequently, on December 9, the House passed the Bill by a 2-1 majority.  A few minutes … Continue reading

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Plan B Available OTC

Plan B will become available this week without a prescription, New York Newsday reports.  It is about time. There are also reports that criticism has been voiced over the fact that the manufacturer has achieved exclusivity for a three year … Continue reading

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