OTC Guide: A Clinician's Resource
Knowing the most-highly recommended over-the-counter products can help clinicians better serve their patients.
Consumers often seek the advice of pharmacists when choosing over-the-counter (OTC) products. Clinicians can also lean on their health care peers on the pharmaceutical front lines for guidance.
Knowing the most-highly recommended OTC products can help clinicians better serve their patients. Nurses, physician assistants and other health care professionals can also utilize the information for their own wellness, and that of their families.
In the annualOTC Guide, published byPharmacy Timesin partnership withU.S. News & World Report, recommendations are made by thousands of pharmacists in 14 OTC sections, and covering 172 therapeutic categories. They include the following:
- Cough/Cold/Allergy
- Stomach/GI
- Topicals
- Oral Care
- Women’s Health
- Vitamins and Supplements
- First aid
- Pediatrics
- Diagnostics
- Family planning
- Diabetes health care
- Durable goods
- EENT
- Pain/Inflammation
A list of ‘other’ products offers recommendations for items that defy categorization, such as leg cramp relief, sleep aids, and syringe disposal.
During these summer months, patients may have questions about OTC products related to skin care. TheOTC Guideshows that Solarcaine (63%) is pharmacists’ top choice for sun burn relief, and Neutrogena (32%) has a slight lead over Coppertone (28%) for sunscreen recommendations. Carmex (26%) topped the list of lip balms.
Outdoor irritants may also elicit patient questions. Cortizone-10 (24%) came out on top of more than 10 recommended products for treating poison ivy or poison oak. Claritin (39%) was the leading oral antihistamine for treating seasonal allergy symptoms.
For germs and dirt brought on by summer play, Hibiclens (42%) was the most favored antibacterial soap. Wet Ones (75%) was pharmacists’ most recommended hand and face wipes.
To view more OTC recommendations, visitOTCGuide.net.
