Find Your Medication |
Find Your Medication |
FDA considers making more drugs available over the counter
A prescription to buy Lipitor may soon no longer be necessary. The Food and Drug Administration has announced that it is considering adjusting its regulatory practices to make certain cholesterol and diabetes medications available over the counter.
A prescription to buy Lipitor may soon no longer be necessary. The Food and Drug Administration has announced that it is considering adjusting its regulatory practices to make certain cholesterol and diabetes medications available over the counter. In announcing the potential move, agency officials said that many common conditions are undertreated, despite the fact that medications that have been proven safe can effectively help individuals improve their health. One reason for this undertreatment may be the fact that patients must have several interactions with healthcare providers just to get prescriptions for their medications. Obtaining an initial prescription requires a visit to the doctor. Filling the order involves going to a pharmacy and waiting for the workers to clear the prescriptions. Refills can require further office visits. However, making more drugs available over the counter could alleviate this problem and make it easier for patients to get the medications they need. The proposal would only apply to medications that have a proven history of safety and efficacy. It would not apply to more intensive drugs that may carry dangerous side effects. |
See also ...
IMPORTANT DISCLOSURE: All medical content and news articles on this website is supplied by an independent third party company. While the information can be useful, this website relies on others for its creation and cannot guarantee the accuracy, medical efficacy, or reliability of the information provided. In all circumstances, you should always seek the advice of your physician and/or other qualified health professional(s) for drug, medical condition, or treatment advice. This website does not provide any medical advice. The content provided on this website is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. |