The Pharmacist as Nonprescription Drug Therapy Manager: Let's Seize the Opportunity

Covington TR

The author proposes that nonprescription drug therapy is not only an overlooked economic opportunity, but also the chance for pharmacists to have a positive impact on patient use of OTC medications. According to figures cited in the article, US retail sales of OTC medications and dietary supplements exceeded $30 billion in 2000, a more than 10-fold increase since 1972, and more than half (57%) of the 3.5 billion health problems treated annually are treated with a nonprescription drug. In addition, certain patient populations—including children and elderly—are at higher risk of adverse effects from OTC medication. Some barriers and solutions proposed by the author include the following:

• Although pharmacists may feel they're too busy filling prescription medications to counsel OTC use, the solution is to counsel more effectively. Possible solutions include software programs that automatically print information about OTC products or, if resources are available, a pharmacist who offers assistance in the OTC aisle.
• Pharmacists often mistakenly believe that the profit on OTC products is negligible. One previous study by the same author compared 20 widely used nonprescription drugs, where gross margins ranged from 28 percent for national brands to 44 percent for store brands. In comparison, gross profits on prescription drugs are typically less than 10 percent.
• Lack of physical space to discuss patient issues is another barrier mentioned by pharmacists. The author indicates that minor changes to create a patient counseling area and moving OTC products that require closer supervision nearer to the pharmacy counter could make a difference, even with a minimal investment.
• The final obstacle mentioned is the lack of reimbursement for OTC counseling, which is countered by the assertion that pharmacists have reported a patient willingness to pay for this type of counseling.

More innovative thinkers such as those at the University of Maryland who created a well-received herbal tour are needed to reshape the role of pharmacists in the future of OTC drug therapy. To do so, pharmacists need to stay current on OTC products and encourage consumers to seek their advice on these products. For the full text of this article, visit the American Pharmaceutical Association website. Under the JAphA menu option, choose the May/June 2002 issue. J Am Pharm Assoc (Wash) 2002 May-Jun;42(3):518-9. Return to Top