In your message dated Friday 2, August 1996 Jon wrote :
> Yeah, New Zealand.
> We(*) released small packs of famotidine 20mg for sale OTC (under
> pharmacist supervision) around 1 year ago.
> The big problem as I see it is we don't really understand what
happens
> with upper GI diseases, despite the Helicobacter revelations. It is
> likely that many upper GI problems are indeed from viral triggers
(most
> oesophageal ulcers in elderly are zoster induced). I am more
concerned
> about masking these kinds of problems - including bleeding gastric
> ulcers - than gastric Ca which is not all that common.
> The problem is that the public/Govt demands only extremely safe new
> drugs. The requirement is almost such that once they have been
around a
> couple of years they are almost safe enough to go OTC. That is, if
the
> patient wants to be their own doctor.
There was a study last year or the year before from Denmark (I think)
which demonstrated no problems with OTC H2 antagonists. In particular
there was no delayed diagnosis of gastric Ca, and where symptoms
persisted, patients consulted their doctor as per usual.
The main swindle with OTC H2 blockers is the homeopathic doses. I
suppose they're OK for occasional use after over-indulgence but anyone
with serious or prolonged symptoms would have to take out a second
mortgage to afford the amount they'd have to buy for adequate
treatment.
Toby
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