Over-the-counter medicines

Pharmacists need a formulary for the aviation industry

Those working in community pharmacy may be familiar with the same faces and camaraderie, but those working in an airport pharmacy will have a different set of customers and patient groups to consider. One such group is airline pilots, who have very specific needs — in particular, the need to o…

OTC remedies and honey rather than antibiotics for acute cough, says NICE and PHE

Over-the-counter cough medicines and honey, not antibiotics, should be the first-line treatment for coughs, according to draft guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and Public Health England.…

Breakdown of the OTC medicines market in Britain

The over-the-counter medicines market grew by almost 1% in 2017 to reach £2.56bn. Although pain relief remains the highest value category group, the most growth was seen in eye care and gastrointestinal products.…

Amazonising pharmacy — reality or just a rumour?

If the headlines are to be believed, the online commerce company Amazon is setting its sights on the US pharmacy market, and entry to the UK market could follow.…

Some protections for vulnerable patients as NHS England rules out routine prescribing of common OTC products

Guidance approved by the NHS will restrict over-the-counter prescriptions for 35 minor health conditions, with some exemptions for those less able to manage self-care.…

NHS England consults on limiting prescriptions of OTC products

NHS England has published its promised consultation on limiting the number of over-the-counter products prescribed by the NHS…

2017: Pharmacy’s roller-coaster year

It has been an unsettling 12 months for pharmacy and as 2017 draws to a close there are still a number of unresolved issues hanging over the New Year.…

2017: the year in pharmacy

Against a backdrop of political inertia caused by a surprise general election and protracted Brexit negotiations, pharmacy has been grappling with some major issues of its own, including supervision of medicines’ supply, professional revalidation and decriminalisation of dispensing errors (see…

Give honey and lemon, not OTC cough medicines, to children with coughs, says leading paediatrician

Children with troublesome coughs should be treated with ‘old-fashioned’ honey and lemon rather than over-the-counter cough medicines, a leading paediatrician has advised…

NHS England publishes new prescribing guidance in bid to save millions of pounds

NHS England has published national guidance on a range of medicines which should no longer be routinely prescribed in primary care…