OTC Drugs

Over-the-counter (OTC) medicines are drugs you can buy without a prescription. Some OTC medicines relieve aches, pains and itches. Some prevent or cure diseases, like tooth decay and athlete's foot. Others help manage recurring problems, like migraines.

In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration decides whether a medicine is safe enough to sell over-the-counter. Taking OTC medicines still has risks. Some interact with other medicines, supplements, foods or drinks. Others cause problems for people with certain medical conditions. If you're pregnant, talk to your health care provider before taking any medicines.

It is important to take medicines correctly. More medicine does not necessarily mean better. You should never take OTC medicines longer or in higher doses than the label recommends. If your symptoms don't go away, it’s a clear signal that it's time to see your healthcare provider.
Link for that
s I had promised some time back, I am proposing a OTC list for India.
I am also proposing a new category for India, i.e. the P-list (Pharmacy
medicines), which would be a shot-in-the-arm weaponry for the
Pharmacist to dispense & recommend these medicines as per his
discretion.

My suggestions to you :
1) This is a trial list, to be built up (additions, deletions) with the
assistance of I-druggers, and eventually, other experts, and other
stakeholders in the country. It could be proposed to submit this list
eventually to the Indian FDA, for their decision. Let the I-druggers
decide too, to whom these lists need to be circulated for comments and
debate, etc.......
2) I have not included FDCs for obvious reasons. However, it would be
a gigantic, and near impossible task to remove all these "irrational"
FDCs from the market. It needs to be decided what is to be done of
these FDC OTC drugs.
3) Initially I tried to restrict myself to OTC drugs from the WHO EDL &
india's EDL 2003, however, the list became too small, and would not
sound practicable to the huge commercial market. So, there are many
drugs which do not figure in these lists.
4) I now hope that this is a commencement of a whole new exercise in
India's drug history........

Description of OTC :

Non- Prescription medicines (OTC medicines) ? These medicines can be
sold only at a pharmacy (and not in any other shop).
These need not be dispensed under the direct supervision of a
pharmacist.
These medicines can be advertised to the public, but without making
tall claims, or misleading the public. All advertisements should also
contain the Warning messages 1. ? DO not use for more than a week
without consulting your doctor or pharmacist)?
2. ?All medicines have the potential to have adverse effects in any
individual?.
In addition to the 2 above messages, the label of the medicine should
also contain :
1. Any contra-indications for use.
2. Indications, dosage, frequency of dose.
3. Potential adverse effects (those which can be ignored, and those if
seen by the patient, he should stop taking the medicine.

In addition, it would be of advantage if PIL or PPI (patient oriented
information) is enclosed in the package ? containing more information
of the medicine. (This PPI or PIL has to be approved by the DCGI). It
is preferable that such information be mandatory.

[India-drug] OTC and P drug list

Aspirin 300mg
Albendazole tab 400mg
Aluminium Hydroxide + Magnesium hydroxide
Activated dimethicone tab 40 mg
Ascorbic acid 100mg, 500mg
Bisacodyl tab 5mg
Castor Oil
Calcium salts 125mg. 250 mg
Chloroquinine sulphate tab 150mg tab
Diethylcarbamazine 50mg , 100 mg tab
Eucalyptus Oil
Ferrous salts tab eq. to 60mg elemental iron
Folic acid tab 500 mcg
Glycerine
Ibuprofen tab 200 mg
Ipecac syrup
Isapghula husk 3.5 gm per 5.6 gm ;powder
Lactulose Liquid 10g/15ml
Loperamide 2 mg
Milk of Magnesia tablets, liquid
Magnesium sulphate powder
Nicotinamide tabs 50mg*
Oral Rehydration Salts
Paracetamol tab 500 mg, syrup 125mg/5ml
Pseudoephedrine tab 60 mg, Syrup 30mg/5ml
Pyridoxine Hydrochloride tab 5mg, 25mg
Riboflavin tab 5mg
Senna tabs 12mg,18 mg
Sodium Bicarbonate powder
Thiamine tab 100mg
Vitamin A tab 5000 IU
Vitamin D3 400 I.U. (capsules)
Vitamin E Cap 200mg
Amylmetacresol lozenges
Benzalkonium chloride lozenges, max 600mcg
Borax (sodium borate ) opthalmic lotions 0.7%
Choline Salicylate mouth gel 8.7%
Cetylpyridinium chloride lozenges, mouth gel
Chlorhexidine gluconate solution 0.2%, gel
Glycerine Suppositories
Povidone-iodine germicide gargle 1% w/v
Oxymetazoline hydrochloride 0.05% nasal drops
Xylometazoline 0.1% nasal drops
OTC DRUGS FOR EXTERNAL USE (including antiseptics/disinfectants)
Benzyl benzoate 25% lotion
Benzoin compound Tincture
Bleaching powder
Calamine Lotion
Cetrimide solution 20 % conc. For dilution
Chlorhexidine solution 5 % conc. For dilution
Chloroxylenol cream 0.8%
Chloroxylenol solution 4.8%
Clotrimazole cream, lotion
Crotamiton cream 10%
Emulsifying ointment
Emusifying wax
Gentian violet 0.5 %, 1 %aqueous solution
Guiaphensin Sy
Hydrogen peroxide solution
Hydrous emulsifying ointment
Iodine Tincture
IPA (isopropyl Alcohol) 70 %
Lindane lotion 1 % (GBHC), cream 1 %
Mercurochrome 0.2 %
Methylated Ethyl Alcohol 70 %
Methyl salicylate ointment
Miconazole 2 % cream or ointment
Permethrin rinse 1 % (Lotion/shampoo)
Potassium Permanganate
Povidone - Iodine solution 5%, ointment 5%, powder
Turpentine liniment
Urea ointment or cream 10%
White soft Paraffin
Whitfield Ointment (Salicylic acid 6% + Benzoic acid 3 %) cream or
oint.
Zinc Oxide Ointment