Drug Topics - January 14, 2008 - (Page 28) 28 DRUG TOPICS JANUARY 14, 2008 www.drugtopics.com Self-Care sions about OTCs, pharmacists gave the following reasons: to improve the patient’s health (78%), protect the patient’s safety (66%), or an ingredient in the patient’s prescription medicine may require discussing an OTC that can be used with it. (63%). Seeing patients deliberate about what OTCs to buy in the cough/cold section draws some pharmacists out from behind the counter to help. Another R.Ph. said “coupons” get them involved. Do patients heed R.Ph.s advice? Forty percent of respondents indicated that patients “almost always” follow their advice on OTC cough, cold, and flu products; 50% said patients “frequently” take their words to heart; and 8% reported that patients “sometimes” heed their words. Fewer than 1% said patients never follow their advice, and 1.6% said “don’t know.” mation/education, and 53% cited patient feedback. An overwhelming number (90%) of respondents favor recommending an OTC decongestant with PSE rather than PE to adults; only 10% prefer to recommend an OTC with PE. Pharmacists reported that OTCs generated about 20% of their store’s annual gross revenue in 2007. Thirty percent stated that this percentage had increased compared with that of 2006; 56% said it was about the same; and 14% reported that it had decreased. Minding our children Respondents were also asked, How has the recent voluntary withdrawal of cough and cold products for infants affected your pharmacy? One pharmacist reported, “A lot of parents (against my judgment) buy the toddler preparation and cut down the dosage.” Another R.Ph. stated that there has been an increase in demand for homeopathic cough and cold products. Yet another R.Ph. observed, “Parents are angry. They have used these products for years and don’t believe the allegations.” One R.Ph. pointed out, “Physicians don’t even know what to recommend.” Still another responded, “Parents still want meds even after being told why they were removed.” One respondent remarked, “People try to find a way to treat their children without the expense of a visit to the pediatrician.” Finally, when asked to provide any additional comments regarding recent changes affecting cough and cold products, one respondent declared that the withdrawal of products for infants is “absolutely ridiculous. No matter what an OTC cough and cold label contains, people are still going to do what they want, especially if they don’t have money to take their children to the doctor or emergency room every time they get a sniffle. And by removing products from the market, the reality is that people will start giving adult medication to children, causing more problems than it is supposed to solve.” Yet another R.Ph. offered this sentiment, “I am happy to see the restrictions on children under the age of 6. Many times in the past parents insisted on giving their young children cold meds, and I always discouraged the use unless indicated for them. People believe that because a drug is OTC, it is safe.” Finally, one pharmacist sized up the situation this way, “I think all of the manufacturers should be making single-ingredient medicine for children, not multi-ingredient.” DT New rules When asked whether state and federal requirements for placing PSE products behind the pharmacy counter have affected sales of these products in their pharmacy, 77% said yes. Ninety-two percent of these respondents reported that sales have decreased as a result. Similarly, when asked whether state restrictions on products containing dextromethorphan have affected sales of these products in their pharmacy, a smaller group (26%) said yes. Eighty-nine percent of these respondents said sales have decreased. One R.Ph. noted that this regulation has created “more theft” of these products. What do pharmacists think about the FDA advisory committee’s recent recommendation that cough and cold products not be used by children under six? Thirty eight percent of respondents said they strongly agree or agree with the recommendation; 33% somewhat agree; and 29% disagree or strongly disagree. When queried how they are counseling parents with regard to their children’s symptoms, in light of the new FDA recommendations, respondents said the method they are most likely to use is, “I tell parents that in most, if not all, instances, the cough, cold, or flu symptoms will run their course and they should keep their child hydrated and watch for other symptoms that may suggest a bacterial infection.” The factors that most strongly influence pharmacists’ recommendations in the cough, cold, and flu arena are patient symptoms, treatment efficacy, and ingredients. In terms of what will increase their confidence level in their cough, cold, and flu recommendations, 80% of pharmacists cited clinical testing/evidence, 67% said more infor- http://www.drugtopics.com
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