The researchers said the OTC drugs advertisements contained less information on the medication risks, with only 11% of the ads discussing OTC drugs risks, in relation to 70% of the ads used when the drug was available by prescription alone.
The lead author of the study Jeremy Greene said when a prescription drug moves to OTC status, providing consumers with on-demand access to the medication, consumers need to have good information to know whether the drug is right for them.
"Our research found, however, that although the drug’s risk and benefit profile does not change when it moves to OTC status, the ads for OTC medications contained less information about the potential risks related to the drug," Greene added.
CVS Caremark executive vice president and chief medical officer Troyen Brennan said the study provides some insights into how drug information is presented to consumers based on the medication’s prescription or over-the-counter status.
"Ads for prescription drugs that become available over-the-counter probably should carry the same level of information regarding the medication’s risks, benefits and side effect profile as consumers continue to need this information in order to make appropriate and informed treatment decisions," Brennan added.
CVS Caremark, Harvard University researchers and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, who were the research partners, analyzed all print and broadcast ads for four prescription drugs (loratadine, omeprazole, orlistat and cetirizine) that were the subject of direct-to-consumer promotion before and after the shift to OTC availability.