OVER-THE-COUNTER MEDICATION (OTC)OTC products are medicines and food supplements available 'over the counter' (OTC) from a pharmacist, without a prescription. The Medicines Act 1968 defines three legal categories of medicines:
Strict licensing procedures are enforced by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the Commission on Human Medicines (CHM), with stricter legal controls for POM medicines. A change of status, from POM to P, or from P to GSL, requires evidence that the medicine is safe for most people to use, and that benefits far outweigh any risks, and the consequences of any side-effects or misuse are assessed. Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) https://www.mhra.gov.uk/ Proprietary Association of Great Britain (PAGB) represents manufacturers of OTC medicines and food supplements in UK https://www.pagb.co.uk/ Medicine Chest Directory of OTC medicines and food supplements www.medicinechestonline.com/ Self Care Forum https://www.selfcareforum.org/ Practice Nurse featured articles Self care series Dr Knut Schroeder and Sara Richards Headache and migraine in young people and adults |
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