In a world of disease and epidemics, a team of skilled medical professionals is needed to address the patient’s needs, and this team includes pharmacists.

The patients first consult the pharmacist who then acts according to protocol whether to prescribe them an OTC medication or refer them to a physician. Therefore, your knowledge and awareness of the OTC medications, make you the preferred pharmacist to your patients.

In this article, we will learn more about OTC medications and the different factors that affect their recommendation.

What are OTC medications?

OTC medications are the medicines that a pharmacist can recommend without a physician’s prescription. They play an important role in relieving symptoms and improving overall health. 

[caption id="attachment_1152" align="aligncenter" width="300"] The importance of the pharmacist’s knowledge of OTC medication[/caption]

What are the factors that affect the recommendation of OTC medications?

1. OTC medications are recommended only to relieve the symptoms of simple conditions.

2. The patient must describe their symptoms in detail.

3. The pharmacist has an essential role to play in providing the necessary information about the disease of the patient in addition to how to use the medication, particularly the OTC medication.

4. Call the specialists and refer the patient to the physician in the following cases:

• No improvement in symptoms

• Progression of the condition

• Feeling a sharp pain

• Trial of many medications with no improvement

• Severe side effects from medications such as lethargy, or severe allergy.

1. Severe psychological issues such as anxiety, depression, 

2. Physician’s consultation if the patient is pregnant or breastfeeding because of the drug interactions that might occur, or if the disease is related to the breastfeeding.

What are the OTC medications?

When you mention OTC drugs, the following comes to mind:

• Analgesic medications for joint pain, headaches, and menstruation, for example, NSAIDs, acetaminophen

• Multivitamins or vitamins such as Vitamin C, Iron, Calcium, etc.

[caption id="attachment_1153" align="aligncenter" width="300"] factors that affect the recommendation of OTC medications[/caption]

• Cold and flu medications to relieve symptoms, for example, Nasal Saline drops, menthol lozenges, and different expectorants.

• Nausea and Vomiting medications 

• Antipyretics for kids and adults such as Ibuprofen

• Allergy medication such as antihistamines.

• Itching and psoriasis creams and ointments such as ones that contain hydrocortisone or antifungal creams.

• Anti-diarrheal medications such as loperamide, and oral rehydration solutions rehydrate the body and replenish the fluids lost from diarrhea.

In Conclusion

You have to gain the customer's trust and be aware of the OTC medications that can be used in different diseases. This guarantees the conversion of a temporary customer into a permanent customer.

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