DRUG-INTERACTIONS BETWEEN PRESCRIBED AND OVER-THE-COUNTER MEDICATION

The use and availability of over-the-counter (OTC) medication is incre asing. Although regulatory agencies take care to assure than nonprescr iption medications are safe and effective, these drugs still have the potential to have clinically significant interactions with prescriptio n medicines, The major classes of OTC medication to be considered in t his light include antacids, histamine H-2 receptor antagonists, NSAIDs , cough and cold preparations and the antiasthma products. Healthcare providers and patients/consumers should be educated regarding possible drug interactions, patient drug regimens should be simplified where p ossible, and all therapeutic failures and adverse reactions should be investigated with regard to the potential contribution of OTC drug pro ducts, Regulatory agencies and pharmaceutical manufacturers should ens ure that nonprescription drug labelling is complete and intelligible t o meet these objectives, Consideration should be given to improving th e postmarketing surveillance of OTC medications.