Over the Counter Medication Education Approach

OTC meds are essential because they give the patient the ability to avoid an unnecessary visit to the doctor's office. They also allow the health care provider to better focus on those with more serious illnesses, and some patients do not have appropriate health care access and rely solely on non-prescription meds. However, patients who use OTC meds do have a tendency to underestimate the serious risks of these meds such as potential for abuse, toxicity, adverse effects, drug interactions, and the delay in seeking a physician's advice.