Paper Topic:

The FDA should put stricter restrictions on over the counter medications

The Restriction Degree of Food and Drug Administration (FDA ) to Over-the-Counter Medications

by (Name

A research in (Course

prepared for (Professor Name (Name of University (Date

Introduction

Over-the-counter (OTC ) drugs are medicines that may be sold without a prescription , in contrast to prescription drugs ADDIN EN .CITE 2007131 312Over-th e-counter drugs2007April 102007Wikimedia Foundation Inc .http /en .wikipedia .org /wiki /Ov er-the-counter_drug "Over-the-Counter Drug . The name "over-the-counter " is somewhat confusing to some , since these items are found on the shelves of stores and bought like

any other packaged product , while prescription drugs are sold at a pharmacy counter ADDIN EN .CITE 2007131 312Over-th e-counter drugs2007April 102007Wikimedia Foundation Inc .http /en .wikipedia .org /wiki /Ov er-the-counter_drug "Over-the-Counter Drug

At present situation of availability of non-prescription drugs to the people , the people are exposed in obtaining a longer list and more powerful medications without the need for a prescription from a physician ADDIN EN .CITE KennedyJames G KennedyBritish Medical JournalBritish Medical Journal96April 10 2007http /www .bmj .c om /cgi /content /full /312 /7031 /593 (Kennedy

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA ) should therefore put more restrictions on the availability of over-the-counter medications and conduct follow-up researches if their action for certain drug availability as over-the-counter has more disadvantages or advantages This is not to question the science behind the invention of a drug but to be more aware and have more critical decision when such over-the-counter is a risk , a threat , or a help to the patients especially households where juvenile population is more at large

It is also frustrating and wearisome that the selective restrictions of FDA expose the consumers to consume those over-the-counter drugs that cause more harm , and those which are safer are being pulled out from the market . Also , the FDA which is supposedly to safeguard the public health and be the number one advocate of substance abuse control does not do their responsibility sensitively and committedly

Another frustrating situation is there is no available data on what is the effect of a certain approved drug when it already became available as over-the-counter . With appropriate and sufficient data , the FDA could have monitored if the decisions are right and critical when such approval is done

The parents should also be critically decisive when utilizing over-the-counter medications as first aid medications for home use . They should be aware of the ingredients and be intellectual enough if what is to believe or not . Advertisements on certain over-the-counter medicines are usually exaggerated and analyzing the message of such media is not further thought about

The students especially teenagers who tend to depend on over-the-counter drugs to self-medicate themselves are not equipped enough that they should be responsible consumers of these drugs Therefore , university and schools should have proper education of their students about these pharmacology products for them to be cognizant of the effects of these drugs

References

ADDIN EN .REFLIST Adams , Mike "Long-Term Use of Tylenol (Acetaminophen ) Found to Cause Kidney Damage , Says New Study . 2004 April 10 2007 http...

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