WASHINGTON, DC – This week, Pharmacy Today released the findings of the new Pharmacy Today Over-the-Counter Product Survey, conducted by the American Pharmacists Association. The annual survey presents the OTC products most often recommended by pharmacists in the U.S.

In addition to the product picks, the survey reveals that pharmacists estimate 79 percent of patients purchase the over-the-counter (OTC) product they recommended, 92 percent of pharmacists walk a patient to the OTC section to assist with a product selection and the average patient consult takes only four minutes of the patient’s time. In addition, pharmacists, on average, counsel 27 patients per week about OTC medications. Patients who seek their pharmacist’s advice include those who require assistance in identifying the most appropriate product (92 percent), patients suffering from an acute or chronic condition (80 percent), patients worried about using an OTC product with other prescription medications (73 percent), and patients worried about taking OTC products with a specific disease/condition (57 percent). 

With more than 300,000 OTC drug products on the market, in more than 80 therapeutic classes, it is critical that patients consult their pharmacist to maximize the benefits from medications and minimize the potential for harmful drug interaction and/or side effects. As the medication experts, pharmacists are trained in both prescription and over-the-counter medications and can provide patients with important information about how medications may interact with certain foods, other medicines or dietary supplements. Pharmacists can help patients select products that address the patient’s individual needs and to navigate their way through the various products available. Pharmacists are the most accessible health care providers and APhA encourages patients to actively seek their advice about the proper use of medications.

The survey, conducted in July 2014 and published in the February 2015 edition of Pharmacy Today, was completed by more than 1,000 practicing community pharmacist recipients of Pharmacy Today. It consisted of eight introductory OTC questions and a series of 89 product categories, for which the recipients were asked to write in approximately how many times per week they had recommended each product. These 89 product categories were divided into three groups of questions, each of which was sent to one-third of participants. Results are grouped by organ system or general use of the products. The groupings were derived from the structure of APhA’s Handbook of Nonprescription Drugs, the definitive source of professional information about OTC products.

** Being a #1 recommended product in the Pharmacy Today OTC Product Survey does not indicate Pharmacy Today or APhA endorsement of any product or service.

About Pharmacy Today
Pharmacy Today is the monthly patient-care services magazine of the American Pharmacists Association. Pharmacy Today offers readers tools and information on issues affecting everyday practice, such as medication therapy management (MTM), provider status for pharmacists, compounding legislation, medication adherence, health literacy and new drugs and indications. Each month, Pharmacy Today profiles innovations in patient care and MTM, giving readers insight into expanding their own patient-centric practice. Regular features include: MTM Pearls, Continuing Education, Product Showcase, ISMP Error Alert, One to One (communication tools and tips), On the Docket (legal cases) and Hub on Policy (laws and policy affecting pharmacy practice)

About the American Pharmacists Association
The American Pharmacists Association, founded in 1852 as the American Pharmaceutical Association, is a 501 (c)(6) organization, representing more than 62,000 practicing pharmacists, pharmaceutical scientists, student pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and others interested in advancing the profession. APhA, dedicated to helping all pharmacists improve medication use and advance patient care, is the first-established and largest association of pharmacists in the United States. For more information, please visit www.pharmacist.com.