Open AccessThe patient, the OTC drug, and the pharmacist – an (in)separable triad? A critical analysis of self-medication
Author(s) -
Camil-Eugen Vari,
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Bianca-Eugenia Ősz,
George Jîtcă,
Alexandra Groșan,
Mihai Ciprian STOICA,
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Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
romanian journal of pharmaceutical practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2069-6671
pISSN - 2066-5563
DOI - 10.37897/rjphp.2021.3.2
Subject(s) - pharmacist , self medication , medicine , drug , medical prescription , over the counter , intensive care medicine , pharmacology , medical emergency , pharmacy , family medicine
Self-medication can be defined as the use of over-the-counter medications, released at the patient’s request. In order to be effective and to reduce the risk of side effects and iatrogenic accidents, their release should be accompanied by specialist advice, which is the prerogative of the pharmacist. Thus, self-medication requires a drug-patient-pharmacist relationship. This paper highlights some practical aspects of OTC medication. We also present some particular cases of medicines released under the OTC regime, but also of medicines that currently require a prescription, although they were initially released on request.