Table 3.

Examples of pharmacist interventions on potential abuse/misuse of OTC medications

Potential OTC abuse/misuse	Pharmacist intervention	Clinical significance of interventions	How pharmacists are alerted to the risk	Type of pharmacy
A male adult asked for 10 bottles of cough medicine (containing dextromethorphan)	Refused to sell	Significant	The customer asked for too much of a product at once	Operating remote services
A woman asked for cetirizine (syrup) to help her baby (aged < 1 y) sleep	Suggested dimethindene maleate (drops)	Moderate	The pharmacist asked the customer about the reason for requesting the medication	Operating remote services
A woman asked for a salbutamol inhaler for the first time	Provided the customer with instructions about the correct use of inhalers	Moderate	The customer informed the pharmacist that this was the first time she was using the inhaler	Operating remote services
A young man asked for 5 bottles of a codeine-containing product at almost midnight	Advised the customer to seek an addiction specialist	Significant	The customer behaved suspiciously	Operating traditional services
A woman asked for diclofenac sodium suppository for her 6-month-old child	Suggested paracetamol suppository	Moderate	The pharmacist asked the customer about the age of her child	Operating traditional services
A man asked for paracetamol 500 mg tablets	Alteration of the dose	Minor	The patient self-administered 4 tablets at once inside the pharmacy	Operating traditional services
A pregnant woman asked for calcium supplements to relieve constant pain in her legs and back	Suggested to the customer that she seek physician consultation	Moderate	The patient informed the pharmacist about her problem	Operating traditional services

Abbreviation used: OTC, over the counter.