Pharmacists are often asked questions about how to treat conditions with over-the-counter (OTC) medications found in the pharmacy aisles. However, patients are confused most of the time with which product to buy due to line extension. For example, Lotrimin has 4 different types of products with the Lotrimin name in it, but each with a different active ingredient in it. Lotrimin AF cream contains Clotrimazole 1%, whereas Lotrimin Ultra cream contains Butenafine 1%. On the other hand, Lotrimin AF foot powder and powder/liquid spray contains Miconazole nitrate 2%. Even the use of each Lotrimin formulation is different. Antifungal medications are not the only victims of line extension confusion. There is often confusion with other products such as allergy medications, antidiarrheal medication, decongestant medications, and combination products. Not knowing the contents of each OTC product can often lead to disastrous outcomes and unwanted adverse reactions. For example, a patient on anticoagulants can experience bleeding complications if they were to take Maalox Total Relief instead of the traditional Maalox. They both contain the name Maalox on its packaging, but with Maalox Total Relief containing bismuth subsalicylate. Patient’s may not know the name of the active ingredient and only know the color of the packaging, so it is important as future and for current pharmacists to be familiar with the OTC products they sell to prevent adverse drug reactions and ineffective self-therapy.
Posted by Kayne Chan, PharmD Candidate 2016, Edited by Sam Shimomura, PharmD, FASHP
Posted by Kayne Chan, PharmD Candidate 2016, Edited by Sam Shimomura, PharmD, FASHP
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