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Course Name
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O.T.C Drugs and Products
Course Number
Credit Hours
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700418
3 Hrs. (2 Lect. + 1 Pract.)
Course Description
Education preparation for community pharmacy involves inculcation of not only
concepts of service and concept of health and illness, but an awareness of patients'
rights, particularly in the field of self-medication. In particular there is the aim to
improve pharmaceutical performance in the areas of:
Screening and diagnosis
Response to symptoms
Provision of advice
Provision of appropriate medicine
Referral
Monitoring usage
Patient records
Course contents
The following classes of OTC drug products are included in this course:
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Antacids
Diarrhea Remedies
Laxatives
Anthelmintics
Emetic and antiemetics
Antihistamines and Nasal Decongestants
Antitussives and Expectorant (Cough preparations)
Internal and external analgesics
Nutritional supplements, mineral and vitamin products
Opthalmic products
Otic products
Dental products
Anti-Acne Aids
Hemorrhoidal products
Dry skin, Dandruff, Seborrhea, Psoriasis and Eczema Products
Foot Care products etc.
General Discussion of a Therapeutic Class of Drug Products
The discussion of a given therapeutic class of drug products will include the following
aspects:
(One)
Brief etiology and understanding of medical conditions for which drugs
are recommended.
 Signs and symptoms
 Pathogenesis
 Likely complications of the condition
(Two)
Comparative evaluation of formulations of different products within the
classification
 To develop a list of the most common OTC's available in UAE
 To compare ingredients
 To study and to evaluate active ingredients in terms of:
Mechanism of action
Efficacy
Absorption and distribution
Toxicity and side effects
 To decide which product is the most advantageous to use (on the basis
of above evaluation and on the basis of cost)
(Three)
Related prescription and non-prescription product which are likely to be
used by the same patient are to be studied with respect to potential interaction.
 Beneficial and adverse drug interactions
 Mechanism of interaction
 Clinical significance
 Cautions you should discuss with the patient
(Four)
Administration - advice to the patient
 Size and frequency of dose
 Onset and duration of effect
 Can dose be repeated?
 Duration of safe use
 Details of method of using the product i.e., apply sparingly etc.
 Times doses should be given i.e., a.m.; p.m.; a.c.; p.c.; with or without
milk, water or juice etc.
 Cautions and precautions
 Pediatric dosages and warnings
Labs
Commonly available OTC products within a specific therapeutic classification are to
be studied. The pertinent information regarding a product is recorded on the
worksheet which includes the following:
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Trade name
Manufacturer
Type of dosage form
Therapeutic classificatin
Dose and dose range
Active ingredients per unit dose
Other ingredients
Role of each ingredient
Rx or OTC
Administration-advice to the patient
 Size and frequency of dose
 Onset and duration of effect
 Side effects
 Duration of safe use
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Details of method of using the product i.e. shake well before use, apply
sparingly etc..
Times doses should be given i.e., a.m.; p.m.; a.c.; p.c.; with or without
milk, water or juice etc.
Cautions and precautions e.g. do not use concomitantly with a specific
drug or donot use in presence of a specific disease or avoid contact to the
eyes etc..
Pediatric dosages and warnings
Storage requirements
Any other instructions
At the end of each laboratory period, a student is given an assignment to solve a set of
situation problems (or clinical cases). The solution of the problem set is to be
submitted in writing at the next laboratory period. An example of the situation
problem on OTC antiacid products is as follows:
"A patient enters into the pharmacy for a antiacid. He explains to the pharmacist that
he is suffering from acute gastric upset since an hour ago when he relished a big egg
sandwitch with lots of "harisa". Which antiacid will you recommend? Why?"
The objectives of this course are taken into consideration in designing the situation
problems.
Main Text Book :
Hand book of Nonprescription Drugs, American Pharmaceutical
Association, latest ed.
Additional Reference:
1. Over-the-counter Pharmaceutical Formulations by D.B. Braun, Noyes
Publications, 1994
2. Martindale: The Extra Pharmacopeia, 31st ed., by J.E.F. Reynolds, Royal
Pharmaceutical Society, 1996
3. Remington: The Science and Practice of Pharmacy 19th ed 1-2vol
Mack Publishing, 1995