Nov 14, 2007 4:30 pm US/Eastern
Health: FDA Considers New BTC Drugs
PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ―
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Currently you need a doctor's prescription to get birth control pills, statins for cholesterol, like Lipitor, and the influenza drug Tamiflu.
CBS
Currently you need a doctor's prescription to get birth control pills, statins for cholesterol, like Lipitor, and the influenza drug Tamiflu.
The idea to make them available behind-the-counter, BTC, would eliminate the need for a doctor, and elevate the role of the pharmacist.
"Pharmacists are well prepared and strategically positioned to review clinical lab test results, identify contraindications, drug interactions and other drug related problems," said Philadelphia College of Pharmacy Professor Dr. Daniel Hussar. He was one of the experts at today's FDA meeting. The issue of the meeting was increasing access to certain medications.
"A strong case can be made for the non prescription BTC availability of statins that have been extensively studied, have a known safety profile and can be monitored by a pharmacist," said Dr. Hussar.
In addition to issues about side effects, there are other concerns about whether people can safely and accurately make a self diagnosis and potential drug abuse or misuse.
"We're concerned about what standards the pharmacist will be held to with regard counseling patients regarding the relative risks and benefits of the medications," said Dr. Michael Greene with the
American
College
of Obstetricians & Gynecologists.
"Maybe set a goal that when the CDC reports less than a thousand deaths a year from drug interactions maybe we can trust these systems to actually be working," said Mr. William Vaughn, with the Consumers Union.
As you might expect, the American Medical Association is adamantly against drugs that are classified behind-the-counter. But they do already exist in many other counties like
Canada
.
There is no time frame on the FDA's considering. Currently it's just on a fact finding mission.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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