Table 4.

Characteristics and benefits of over-the-counter medicines

Characteristics [76]

• Have benefits that outweigh risks • Have low potential for misuse and abuse • Can be used for self-diagnosed conditions • Do not require consultation with a healthcare provider

Benefits to patient [76]

• Offer direct, rapid access (prescription not needed) [11] • Offer convenience and wide availability: drugstores (pharmacies), grocery stores, mass merchandisers, etc. • Offer choice: wide variety of treatment options • Offer self treatment of common conditions • Can be kept on hand (e.g., home first-aid kit, travel kit)

Benefits to society

• Decrease use of healthcare system (fewer physician visits, lower system costs) [11] • Allow healthcare system to focus limited resources on [76]:  − Diagnosis and treatment of serious diseases that require physician involvement  − New research  − Innovative services • Provide significantly expanded access to treatment [13] • Contribute to increased economic productivity because of less time absent from work [13] • Reduce “treatment gap” (number of people with a condition who need treatment but do not get it because of cost, inconvenience, difficulty getting an appointment with their physician, etc.) [76]