OTC Medications: A Case Study

Certain drugs are classed as prescription only medicines as they have more harmful effects on an individual’s body. They are not available over the counter so to prevent the misuse of these drugs as they can lead to more serious consequences if taken incorrectly. Although, general sales list medicines can also harm an individual when taken in higher quantities, they do not run the same risk of misuse as prescription only medicines and can be self-medicated. General sales list medicines, such as Paracetamol and Ibuprofen, in higher quantities are classed as pharmacy medicines.

The rising cost of prescriptions in the United States has become a huge threat to patients and to owners of hospitals. Most pharmacy companies are buying drugs that are undervalued, then they are raising the prices up to gain more profit. Even some companies admit to rising the cost up 212% (AHA, 2015). The more the cost of prescriptions go up, the greater chance there is that people will give up on taking the drugs and just suffer through or buy over the counter medicines. The purpose of this paper is the inform people of the affects and consequences of these drugs beginning to rise in costs. Lives can

The medical world has noticed several changes and improvements during the past century, but maybe none that 's as economically rewarding afterward the prescription drug business. New medications turn-up regular and maintain to treat a growing number of ailments. Around the corner of each and every block is a drugstore as well as their shelves are stocked with prescription drugs plus it looks they 're here to stay. Most frequently we change to

Keep a Medication Chart of all medication, over-the-counter, and herbal supplementals. It will be easier to stay aware of what and when medications have been taken, discontinued, or there was an allergy reaction.

Are prescription drugs overprescribed? Are patients being prescribed the correct medications that they actually need? Are generic drugs doing the same for the human body that marked up brand name medications are? These are some of the public’s biggest questions that can be easily answered by research. Everyone is affected by medication and healthcare in general today. Many real life scenarios are offered throughout this writing to support the argument. The following thesis statement is a worldwide problem. Unfortunately, the United States has the largest problem with inflation of drug cost and over-prescription of medications. Many people are to blame: drug manufacturers, insurers, prescribers, educators, and many others. A change is needed.

Prescription medications serve the purpose of helping individuals with symptoms that are occurring in the short term. The perception people have on prescribed medication is widely positive due to the high number of daily consumers, but the world is only viewing the positives on this controversial topic. Consumers who have illnesses should not rely on prescription medications due to the negative side effects, high addiction rates and potential increase in crime proving that home remedies are much more reliable, healthier and safer alternatives.

Over the last several years, pharmaceutical companies have launched a campaign style called Direct to Consumer Drug Advertising or known as DTCA. This campaign has led to a large increase of clinical examinations has led to a large increase in clinical examination and this makes the pharmaceutical companies happy and helps padding their pockets. Using this type of advertising, these drug companies allow details of a particular drug to spread to a potential patient and then most likely pushed by the doctor upon visit. These types of advertising campaigns are focused on trying to “enrich” the consumer (Relman p28). Even though this type of advertising campaign allows most drugs to be cheaper overall, consumers should be concerned about the

Today, prescription drug abuse is on the rise. This is because these medications are more readily prescribed by doctors. At the same time there are also more online pharmacies from which you can get medications without a prescription.

Right now, at this very moment, somewhere in America, there is a commercial playing, advertising a prescription drug, while a family sits around and watches it or subconsciously takes in what the commercial has to offer while they stare at the bright screens of their cellular phones. The widespread media of prescription medicines, specifically amphetamines, sedatives, and tranquilizers, allow pills like ‘Xanax’ (a tranquilizer used to treat depression), Zoloft (antidepressant), or Adderall (a medication used to treat ADHD) to become trusted, widely known, household names.

Are prescription drugs overprescribed? Are patients being prescribed the correct medications that they actually need? Are generic drugs doing the same for the human body that marked up brand name medications are? These are some of the public’s biggest questions that can be easily answered by research. Everyone is affected by medication and healthcare in general today. Many real life scenarios are offered throughout this writing to support the argument. The following thesis statement is a worldwide problem. Unfortunately, the United States has the largest problem with inflation of drug cost and over-prescription of medications. Many people are to blame: drug manufacturers, insurers, prescribers, educators, and many others. A change is needed.

(Herzberg 106.3: 408-10). This has become the norm. People take prescription drugs; lifestyle change is far more difficult than popping a pill. Direct to consumer advertising of prescription medication undermines a physicians authority. They went to medical school and passed rigorous testing to become a physician, prescription drug advertising is an insult to physicians. A physician takes an oath, “To do no harm”. They are compromised with the current advertising conundrum, knowing that if a patient does not get the prescription they want from them, they will simply seek another doctor. Drug seekers exist, and without prescription drug advertising they would still exist. Yet the United States is creating new drug seekers by allowing prescription

When it comes to prescriptions, people ask: what are prescription drugs? Who benefits from prescription drugs and why are prescription drugs important to society? Throughout a person’s entire life, prescription drugs absorb the body and whether the issue is for headaches, cramps, or sickness, prescriptions is there to make a person feel better. Moreover, different types of prescription drugs treat different types of illnesses or reduce the symptoms. However, people do better toughing it out than taking a prescribed drug. A person who has a cold and is taking a prescribed drug has a higher risk of a disease while another person who has a cold and is not taking a prescription drug does not. Due to the issues, prescription drugs need to reform

There are many direct to consumer advertising for prescription drugs. On television, magazines, radio etc, you see the most recent advertisements for prescription drugs. After some people see the advertisements they soon rush over to their doctor and their illness and life would be perfectly pain and stress free. Making the public conscious of options for treatment is not a bad thing. But these false advertisements are misleading consumers onto unnecessary treatment.

There is a significant correlation between an increase in direct-to-consumer pharmaceutical advertisements and an increase in prescriptions. The critics who are opposed to direct-to-pharmaceutical advertisements suggest that more advertising leads to more requests and more prescriptions of certain medications. They also claim that the publications of such advertisements may eventually blur the distinction between patient and consumer if we are not careful. Physicians have reported that most patients who are knowledgeable on a DTC advertised pharmaceutical

With all the positive and negative arguments regarding DTC, it could be argued that it has had a primarily positive effect on society at large. First, many people who would not have access to needed drugs now have the opportunity to obtain them. Second, many people have been educated through the DTC pharmaceutical campaign. “Many physicians thought that DTC ads made their patients more involved in their health care” (U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2013, p.1). There are many people who would not know that there is medication out there to help them with their ailment “Drug makers are likely to find the consumer increasingly at the center of their strategic thinking as they search harder and harder for blockbuster drugs” (Aitken & Holt, 2000, p. 83). “DTC ads help patients have better discussions with their physicians and provide greater awareness of treatments” (U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2013, p.1). However, there are valid arguments against DTC in regards to the pharmacy industry. It is this writer’s opinion that DTC outweighs the inherent risk and danger of DTC.