Feb 25, 2008 8:26 pm US/Eastern
FDA Looks To Make Some Drugs Prescription-Free
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
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Prescription medicines, graphic element on black
AP
You know that with a prescription, you need a doctor's John Hancock and that anyone can buy an "over the counter" remedy, which might not be what you really need to get better.
So how about a third option: "behind the counter" drugs -- a concept currently being reviewed by the food and drug administration. "Anytime that there's a drug that has some side effect potential and yet for the most part is relatively safe and relatively wide used, it might be a candidate for behind the counter sales," said Steve Giroux of the National Community Pharmacists Association.
That means you wouldn't need a prescription from a doctor. Instead, the pharmacist would help you.
It's a system already used in a number of other countries -- treating everything from migraines to high cholesterol.
Pharmacists say this system would keep people from making unnecessary trips to the emergency room and could bring down health care costs, but groups like the American Medical Association are opposing it.
"Pharmacists are very good and knowledgeable about the medications and the information about the medications, but they're not trained in the clinical side of medicine like physicians," said Rebecca Patchin of the American Medical Association.
Another concern is paying for those pricey drugs. No one is sure that insurance companies would pick up the tab on "behind the counter" drugs.
James Appleby is with the American Pharmacists Association says, "We whole heartedly hope that insurers will take the long view on the benefits of covering BTC medicines."
So in the future you might not get "just what the doctor ordered," but what the pharmacist ordered.
Now this new system could actually work two ways: some drugs that are currently available "over the counter" could be moved back "behind the counter" and would only be available with a pharmacist's consent.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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