Over the counter drugs

[Homer]

Do any of you educators out there know of a durg or other prescriptions substance that over time proved it self so well that it was reduced to an "over the counter" product?

;) homer

[Bev Heishman]

There are several allergy drugs that were degregulated. I believe I just saw that Claritin for example is or will be shortly. The same for allergy relief eye drops. I can also think of Monistat,a woman's personal product, that was deregulated and is now available over the counter.
Bev

[Homer]

Hey Bev, Thanks for the info.

Hmmmm ........ now I am wondering if corrective lenses have proved themselves harmless enough to be taken of the controlled list and put on the over-the-counter list?
:idea: :idea:

[Bev Heishman]

The interesting thing that is happening here is legislative changes to the scope of practice for optometry. I believe I commented elsewhere in the state leaders forum. It would be practicing optometry if you recommend a lens, style or design including low vision aids if the optom's get their way.

Of course I wonder if smelling the odor, powder or mist of our higher index lenses qualifies as a regulated substance. :D Or the wonderous odors of fresh dyes and acetone?:cheers:

[Cindy Hamlin]

Also, Sudafed was given over the counter status!

~Cindy

[Steve Machol]

Also Nixoral - a dandruff shampoo.

[Jackie L]

Steve...my goodness, imaging dandruff with a head of hair like yours. Like a blizzard in New England.

[Steve Machol]

Well I was going to mention minoxidol (Rogaine) as another former prescription drug to go OTC, but I figured you'd make fun of me for being 'hair-obsessed'. It didn't stop you, you made fun of me anyway! :p

[Homer]

Now that we have the dandruff under control, there is another question that, in my mind, fall out of these responses.

Why is is necessary to have prescription for correceive lenses?

What if we deregulated ophthalmic lenses?

The lens order could be like a doctor's suggestion on an RX pad for an over-the-counter treatment. The pharmacist then explains the differences between several like products and the customer makes an informed purchase.

Any smart pharmacist would stay pretty close to the original order or have a really good reason for not recommending it - like incompatability with other drugs or lifestyle issues.

De we dare go here?

[Maria]

Amid great controversy, the 'morning-after' birth control pill has now become available over the counter here.

[Homer]

Shouldn't be too difficult to deregulate ophthalmic lenses after that! Or were you trying to say something esle, Maria?

Homer

[LaurieC]

Seems to me I read that the big insurance companies, not the drug companies are responsible for the current FDA petitions to convert status of numerous allergy medications to OTC. Since almost none of them provide Eyewear, guess they won't be doing that to us.

[harry a saake]

:( I don,t know if i would bet on that Laurie, as you remember all it took with plus lenses was to change the name and call them magnifiers. Seems like all it would take is to put minus out on the market and call them demagnifiers.

[Homer]

Yes, and almost every lophthalmic lens is either magnifying or demidifying is one form or another. Neither of which has proved to be a cancer causing device ..... or even cause someone to catch a common cold.

Hmmmmmm.

[mullo]

I actually think I saw these at a flea market or drugstore somewhere before. It was years ago, but I do recall. They were simply negative spherical powers in OTC glasses. Minifiers??? Hmmmmmm...................Mullo

[mullo]

A guy here in Vancouver has recently opened an OTC readers store. That is all he sells. He has aproximately 100 different styles.
He anticipates sales of $380,000 in his first yr and $700,000 in his second yr. His glasses range from $20 pr to $140 pr. He said he sold 8 prs to one customer for $485. As for his sales projections, I have gone over the numbers and I think he is dreaming...........................Mullo

:hammer:

[Joann Raytar]

Two years back we had quite a few stores and mall kiosks selling OTC, Reading Glasse only open up. Today, most of them are out of business.

I never did get why people like drug store readers. They break and scratch very easily. Many people go through a couple of pair a year. Let's say they are $20 a pair for a something that looks decent cosmetically. If you go through four pair a year, you could have bought something better but basic in an optical shop for $100 and gotten at least a year out of them. You break even. If you spend a little more money on the frame then in two years you only need to get lenses so the frame has technically paid for itself.

[Homer]

It's denial, Jo. You apparently aren't old enough to have to deal with having rounded the corner of facing the fortys and from there seeing the fifties bearing down hard on you.

Denial of "need" - thus these readers are called "cheaters".

We could use your agrument for not going to the 39.95 place for their prescription eyewear - but many people do. The feel like they are cheating the system.

So, people want a bargin, deny the real need, and feel like they can beat the system.

Let's deregulate corrective lenses and see how many opticians can stay in business. ;-)