Prescription OTC and Herbal Meds

Prescription, OTC and Herbal Remedies in Canada

More and more consumers are becomes wise to the ways of medicine, and seeking methods of self-medicating and treating acute or chronic ailments with as little hassle as possible. There are several therapies available to patients suffering from physical ailments, including prescription drugs, OTC and herbal medications. Each of these medications is treated differently by the Canadian government, and regulated in a slightly different manner.

Though all of these medications may potentially be taken safely, they can also cause a variety of symptoms and side effects if taken incorrectly. Thus it is critical that consumers educate themselves to as great an extent as possible to ensure that the medicine options they take are safe given their personal medical history. An overview of each of these different therapies is provided below, as well as legislation governing their disbursement and use.

Prescription, OTC and Herbal Medication: An Overview

There are a variety of medications available to consumers seeking relief for ailments ranging from severe to mild in nature. The strongest medications, prescription medications, are highly regulated substances developed under stringent testing protocols and offered to the public for ailments ranging from cancer to the flu. Because of the complex nature of prescription medications, consumers generally only have access to them with a legitimate prescription from a licensed prescription. Improper use of prescription medications can lead to severe side effects, thus it is important that physicians asses a patients and determine whether a medication is suitable for their condition prior to dispersal.

OTC medications might be considered 'milder' forms of prescription medications. Many of them have similar effects as prescription medications, such as pain relief, but are generally less powerful and contain less active ingredients than their prescription counterparts. Most consumers are able to purchase over the counter medications at a local grocer or pharmacist, and many use them to self-medicate or treat minor ailments and illnesses.

Herbal medications are often considered 'nature's pharmacy.' They are formulations derived from plant extracts that might come in caplets or capsules. Some herbal medications are also available in tea form. Herbal medications are often milder in nature than both OTC and prescription medications, and may be used for acute or chronic illnesses. Many have effects that build up over time, thus require more prolonged use. They can be used to both treat and to prevent illnesses.

Herbal remedies might interact with or affect the effectiveness of prescription or over the counter medications, thus it is vital that consumers understand the potential side effects or interaction that may occur when taking an herbal remedy. Many consumers believe that because herbal medicines are 'natural' they are safe, but this is not necessarily the case.

Therapeutic Uses of Medication

More and more OTC and herbal remedies are being used by individuals interested in 'self-care.' As an increasing number of OTC and herbal remedies have become available, more consumers are 'returning to natural sources' and seeking out natural forms of therapy. There are many medications previously that were only available via prescription that are now OTC, which has resulted in some financial repercussions including the fact that they are no longer covered by health benefit plans.

It is vital that all prescription remedies are developed and tested by drug companies, in order to meet government regulations with regard to safety and side effects, before they are released for dispensing. This is not the case however with herbal remedies, thus added ingredients may be included which may affect a persons' health.

Though herbal remedies are often viewed as 'safe' and 'harmless' there are many potential safety concerns including over-medicating, under medicating, drug to drug, drug to food and side effect problems. Herbal medications can interfere with other drugs and either exacerbate or lessen their effectiveness. It is vital therefore those consumers consult with their physician prior to taking any drugs in combination with herbal therapy.

There is a large body of evidence which suggests that the medical community is increasingly interested in alternative medicine as well; thirteen out of 16 Canadian medical schools for example offer educational curriculum on acupuncture and homeopathy among some of the more traditional topics (Silberstein & Spiegel, 2001).

There is also a movement to address the quality and efficacy of alternative supplements in Canada, where recently the pharmaceutical industry started manufacturing herbal remedies and McNeil Consumer Products received approval within Canada for the "release of Tanacent for the treatment of migraines (Silverstein & Spiegel, 2001). This drug is derived from an herbal medication, feverfew.

Legislation and Medication

There are many that have suggested that the drug review process and legislation governing herbal remedies in Canada is less stringent than in the United States; in Canada for example there is typically one individual responsible for evaluating a prospective agent whereas a team of reviewers is typically employed in the U.S. (Silverstein & Spiegel, 2001; Ruedy, Kaufman & Macleod, 1999). The cost of obtaining a 'drug identification number' is also less in Canada (Silverstein & Spiegel, 2001).

Prescription medications are highly regulated whereas herbal and OTC preparations less so, particularly herbal therapies. Prescription medications must meet several different standards and go through testing before a product can be marketed for a specific disease.

In 1999 Canada allocated 7 million dollars to establish an Office of Natural Health Products that was tasked with governing pre-market assessment, labeling, licensing and monitoring of herbal supplements though the full scope of the office has yet to be fully determined (Longtin & Miller, 2000).

Within Canada prescription medications go through the same rigorous legislation and regulation they would in other countries. The national authority for drug regulation in Canada, Health Canada, operates under Canada's Food and Drugs Act and Regulations, and is responsible for conducting regulatory reviews of drugs to ensure sufficient "evidence of safety, efficacy and quality" (HC, 2004).

Prescription and OTC drugs on the market available for consumer purchase are continually monitored by Health Canada for safety and efficacy (HC, 2004). Prescription drugs may only be sold if a consumer has a valid prescription written by a physician licensed to practice in Canada (HC, 2004).

The provincial and territorial governments within Canada are tasked with regulating the practice of medicine and pharmacy, and pharmacies are required to be registered within each territory before they may dispense medication (HC, 2004).

Conclusions/Analysis

There is a growing trend among consumers to 'self-medicate' or find natural remedies to help prevent and treat mild or acute illnesses. Because of this many consumers have turned to OTC remedies or natural remedies for support and healing.