Today, I finally asked if Ailbhe would take me to the OTC medications and explain/show me all their medications. I was very excited because as you will see, many of these medications are not OTC in America!
So many, many people in Europe smoke, but recently there is this pretty big push for electronic cigarettes. Now back home, I remember being taught that us as pharmacists cannot recommend them necessarily because they are not FDA approved yet, and one of the ingredients in them to make them work is the same that is is windshield washer fluid. Well, I am going to talk about that in a later blog - but here they do not use these products as much as they do their VIP-electronic cigarettes
Their OTC fiber products/laxatives. Very similar to home with the Dulcolax being one of the most popular. She explained that it is important to not use these everyday due to risk of dependence - same as home too:)
They have Imodium(R), domperidone (Motilium), Gaviscon, and Milk of Magnesia. The fiber products are a lot less to choose from then back home...there are just the few that are on the bottom of the shelf - nothinggg like the options patients have back home!!
If a patient has heart burn, other than the typical TUMS which here they call - Rennies. They have Zantac OTC and Pantup - or pantoprazole as their PPI. Omeprazole, Lansoprazole are both prescription only!! How interesting because it is the exact opposite back home!! They have the same recommendations as us with the step up of going to a PPI
Now, for some of the most interesting products that I feel like back home would only be sold at a GNC -
(except Stepsils...it is the only lozenge brand really here (except the 3 in the bottom right). So crazy because back home we need an entire in itself to display all the different lozenges for colds and such!
Pro Plus: Wake up! I saw this box and thought it had to be a caffeine tablet - exactly right!! A product from Bayer - Pro Plus is a pure caffeine based pill with 50 mg of caffeine - 2 tablets are equivalent to one cup of coffee!!
LifeLine - Hangover Defence:
From the product's website: Lifeline™ was developed and is made in Ireland where it is the No.1 brand of hangover prevention on the market – So you know it works, we can prove it.
Don't let a good night lead to a rotten morning! There's nothing nicer on a cold winter's night than to snuggle up in front of the telly with a drink - defend yourself from that groggy morning after feeling with Lifeline Hangover Defence™!
Our hangover tablets contain a carefully researched blend of activated charcoal, Aquamin® and vitamins B and C. It is a very simple product to use - just take the two small pills as early as possible in your drinking session - and that's it.
No messing about with taking pills every drink or having to remember to take extra pills later - just take 2 capsules and enjoy yourself!
The Ingredients:
Activated charcoal, which has been used in hospitals for many years and has been shown to be highly effective in adsorbing the congeners (toxins and impurities), found in alcoholic beverages. Congeners tend to be more concentrated in Brandies and red wines than in Vodka and white wines, which is why many people tend to experience more formidable hangovers after drinking red wines.
Lifeline Hangover Defence ™ pills contain the highest grade vegetable carbon currently available, offering the largest possible surface area. Other brands tend to use cheaper carbon and often compress it into pills or caplets, further reducing its ability to adsorb toxins from alcohol.
Aquamin® is a very unique ingredient, sourced from the crystal clear waters of the Atlantic Ocean off the clean and beautiful West coast of Ireland. It is patented for its qualities. Aquamin® is a blend of soluble calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate and other sea minerals. Research has shown that combining calcium and magnesium carbonates with activated charcoal further increases the ability of the carbon to absorb congeners and toxins. Aquamin® is considerably more expensive than simple rock chalk, which is the ingredient used by almost all of our competitors - but its also considerably better at doing its job.
Vitamins B and C. Alcohol depletes nutrients from the body. In particular, vitamin B is involved in the maintenance of nervous system functioning as well as aiding relaxation while vitamin C is an important antioxidant which helps protect cells from damage.
Vitamin B3. Niacin is also known as vitamin B3. It has several important functions, including: helping produce energy from the foods we eat and helping keep the nervous and digestive systems healthy.
Taken together the activated carbon and the Aquamin® serve to adsorb most of the toxins associated with alcohol consumption, reducing their effect significantly. The vitamins support the body in its attempts to combat the effects of alcohol consumption and repair damage done quickly. Resulting in no more hangover for you. A healthy hangover cure!
Anadin: A typical pain medication with aspirin, caffeine, and quinine
Well apparently Pin worms are a pretty big problem for Irish people - so Vermox, or mebendazole is an over the counter anti-worm medication.
One tablet or one 5mL dose of liquid suspension, once only for each member of the family is all that’s needed. As the intestines, where the worms live can be 9 metres long, it may take up to 3 days for the medicine to work its way through.
Vermox works against these worms: Threadworms are the only common worms that infect humans in Australia. Rare worms such as whipworm, roundworm and hookworm are not a problem in this country. If you suspect a rare worm infection, check with your doctor or pharmacist. If diagnosed with a rare worm infection, Vermox may be used for treatment as it is also formulated to kill whipworm, roundworm and hookworm as well as threadworm.
The Pain section. Nurofen & Panadol = ibuprofen & acetaminophen to us! You cannot purchase these in quantities greater than 24. The pacacetamol (acetaminophen) is considered the most dangerous drug here - about ever! The damage it can cause is potentially irreversible & many times it is unintentional! It is nice they have the limits here!
The next area held their OTC cold sore medications! Yep, topical aciclovir is available here! In a few different generics. They do stress though that it only lessens symptoms by 1 to 2 days...but we calculated it out, that is like 13% discount - would you purchase an item of clothing that was 13% off? But to some people, that one less day of symptoms is very meaningful!
Their eye drop section - pretty standard medications here! except...
They have an antiseptic/disinfectant - for conjuctivitis & blepharitis - that is recommended for minor infections! They said in the UK, the pharmacists have prescribing rights for conjuctivitis!! So interesting!
Propamidine works by stopping bacteria from growing and multiplying, which controls the numbers of bacteria causing an infection. The remaining bacteria die or are killed by the body's immune system. This treats the infection. Putting the medicine directly into the eye allows the medicine to act directly on the bacteria that are causing the infection. - netdoctor
They have extensive cough treatment and symptom relief medications here! Waaayyyy more options then the 2 we have in America - dextromethorphan & guafenisin.
4 Flu - one of their OTC combination products. Most of them are the link selling I mentioned earlier, but they combined here some paracetamol, diphenhydramine, and pseudophedrine. Interesting combination to me...
Their number one selling ingredient carbocisteine - is a mucolytic used to help clear sputum with a productive cough. This can be beneficial because it can help prevent bacteria from living in the chest!
Casacol contains the active ingredients: Guaifenesin, Methoxyphenamine Hydrochloride, Sodium Citrate.
Guaifenesin - An expectorant that also has some muscle relaxing action. It is used in many cough preparations to assist the thinning of phlegm from the airways in acute respiratory tract infections to expectorate it.
Sodium Citrate - white powder that is commonly used as a pH buffering agent, an electrolyte replenisher, systemic alkalizer and in topical cleansing solutions. - helps break up the phlegm - very old school!
Methoxyphenamine Hydrochloride - I had too look this one up - it looks like it is a bronchodilator that is used in small amounts in this cough syrup to reduce dry cough symptoms and open the airway and relieve chest congestion & edema. - - slight beta agonist to help a wheeze, kind of like an inhaler
Glycerine Honey & Lemon: This medicine helps relieve coughs and sore throats. The main ingredients glycerin, honey and lemon have a soothing effect on the throat and also help to reduce irritation which leads to coughing. This is a pretty neat product - back home we have honey products too, especially for kids!!
We all are very familiar with diphenhydramine (Benadryl) and Dextromethorphan (our only cough suppressant that is OTC)...but added levomenthol!
Levomenthol: cooling and pain-relieving properties - which when inhaled or applied on the skin produces a cooling sensation. It relieves stuffiness in the nose and helps make breathing easier. In this case it is in the cough syrup as a liquid. It is good that the cough suppressant is recommended for dry coughs only ... soothing action
I definitely like that they label the cough syrups like this!!!
This medicine helps relieve symptoms of colds, flu and allergies.
Triprolidine hydrochloride is an antihistamine and relieves allergy symptoms such as watering eyes, sneezing and runny nose and also dries nasal secretions. - 1st generation antihistamine, very sedating
Pseudoephedrine hydrochloride is a decongestant and relieves nasal and sinus congestion which helps make breathing easier.
This is nice because it is called literally labeled phlegm cough and it contains products perfect for such! I do really appreciate their labeling because if a patient does not talk to the pharmacist about an appropriate recommendation it could prevent a lot of people leaving with an inappropriate product.
Codinex: Codeine Phosphate 15mg/5mL - very sedating but works as a cough suppressant - It is the 'gold standard' cough suppressant - works in the 'cough center' of the brain.
The first aid section:
Now this, my friends, is Voltarol - aka diclofenac gel! We have this in the US as "Voltaren" which is a prescription only product and is obnoxiously expensive!!
Voltarol - contains the active ingredient diclofenac diethylammonium, which is a type of medicine called a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). NSAIDs are used to relieve pain and inflammation.
(from their Irish Medicines board)
Diclofenac works by blocking the action of a substance in the body called cyclo-oxygenase (COX). Cyclo-oxygenase is involved in the production of various chemicals in the body, some of which are known as prostaglandins. Prostaglandins are produced by the body in response to injury and certain diseases and conditions, and cause pain, swelling and inflammation. Diclofenac blocks the production of these prostaglandins and is therefore effective at reducing inflammation and pain.
When diclofenac is applied to the skin (topical application) it is absorbed through the skin into the underlying tissues, where it reduces pain and inflammation in the local area.
Voltarol emulgel is used to relieve local pain and inflammation caused by a variety of muscle, joint, tendon and ligament injuries, such as sprains, strains and bruises. It can also be used for rheumatism and, when prescribed by a doctor, osteoarthritis.
Same concept - Nurofen (ibuprofen), an NSAID as a topical rub!
One of our favorites and most wanted back home - Tiger Balm:)
...and Biofreeze!
Wart removal & foot care products!
Their natural section - which I never once while I was here noticed anyone asking for these products...
I started taking Co-Q-10 here per that drug reps recommendation!! I definitely have liked it thus far:)
They do not have nearly the overwhelming options for Vitamins / Supplements here - as they only have like 2 manufacturers of them versus our 20 at least for each!
Finally, I talked about Lipotrim products in a previous blog also, and here are the products!!! I tasted this with Ailbhe (and the drug rep agreed) they taste bad at first, it takes a couple eatings to enjoy it!
What an educational day:) I am sure there is information I am missing, so I will keep updating this day as I learn new information!!!
Irish word of the day: crack on = continue on, get going!
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