THE INFLUENCE OF RX-TO-OTC CHANGES ON DRUG SALES - EXPERIENCES FROM SWEDEN 1980-1994

Objective: A descriptive study of national sales data from Sweden to f ind out the effect of over-the-counter (OTC) switches on total sales o f a number of drugs. During the period 1980-94, 16 drugs were changed from prescription only (Rx) status to the Swedish OTC market. Total sa les increased for 14 out of these 16 drugs. The increase was seen soon after the change to OTC status. Two years after the change an average increase of 36% was seen. In the following 2 years, the increase was typically very modest (average 1%). Large differences in the changes w ere seen for the individual drugs. The prescription of OTC packs decre ased on average by 26% during the first 2 years after the switch. Conv erting this decrease in sales in terms of number of packs no longer pr escribed led to an estimated yearly saving of SEK 200 million ($US 30 million) for the national drug budget. Taking account of the total inc rease in defined daily doses (DDDs) 2 years after the change for those 16 drugs led to an estimated yearly saving of SEK 2.5 billion ($US 40 0 million).