Physicians and Pharmacists Reach for OTC Relief With New Epocrates Reference

SAN MATEO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Patients’ use of over-the-counter (OTC) medications has become as common as the cold. However, most patients may not realize usage of these non-prescription medications, including cough syrup and pain relievers, should often be discussed with their healthcare provider. Some OTC medications may interact with or reduce the effectiveness of other medications, or even include extraneous ingredients that can make their symptoms worse. With an abundance of OTC drugs on the market and patient usage on the rise, healthcare providers are often challenged to keep track of OTC choices and safety.

“There are so many OTC options on the market now to treat ailments like allergies, colds and constipation, it is impossible to keep track of them all”

Physicians and pharmacists are now more prepared to answer patients’ questions, make recommendations and check for potentially harmful interactions with the introduction of a new OTC drug module from Epocrates, Inc. More than 625,000 U.S. healthcare professionals already using Epocrates mobile software can now access the latest information for hundreds of brand name OTC drugs right from their iPhone™, BlackBerry^®, Palm^® or Windows Mobile^® device. The availability of this new reference is especially timely given the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s recent review of a potential overdose risk for patients combining multiple OTC products with the same active ingredients, such as acetaminophen.

“There are so many OTC options on the market now to treat ailments like allergies, colds and constipation, it is impossible to keep track of them all,” said Dr. Jeanie Kim, pediatrician. “Especially my practice, I need to know both the active and inactive ingredients, and which flavor is most palatable for a child. Epocrates’ new OTC reference will be a huge help for me and my patients.”

Over-the-counter products with multiple active ingredients are very common since patients often have many symptoms to treat at once. Unique to the new Epocrates OTC reference, physicians and pharmacists can identify specific ingredients in combination products. For example, an antihistamine could cause additional drowsiness or a decongestant could interact with blood pressure medicines. A clinician using Epocrates software could quickly find the single offending agent causing a product’s contraindication, adverse reaction, or drug interactions and find an alternative.

Healthcare providers may also use the software to identify:

• Drug interactions between OTC and prescription medications
• Safe products for pregnant women and sugar-free products for patients with diabetes
• Products covered by Medicaid and select health plans for eligible patients
• Medications by class such as analgesics or expectorants (cough syrups)

“When customers come in with the flu, sending them down the medication aisle to see 50 plus remedies is not enough. Epocrates will help me find the right option for them that will not only help relieve their symptoms quickly, but will not cause any adverse reactions or interact with their other medications,” said Fred C. Hirning, PharmD, FAPhA.

A clinical demo of Epocrates’ new OTC module, highlighting the risks of acetaminophen toxicity, can be viewed on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkzKCPrNCoM.

The comprehensive OTC drug database can be downloaded with a subscription to any Epocrates premium product, visit www.epocrates.com for more information.

ABOUT EPOCRATES, INC.

Epocrates is a leading provider of clinical information and decision support tools to healthcare professionals. Epocrates currently has more than 800,000 active subscribers worldwide, including more than one in three U.S. physicians and 40 percent of U.S. medical students. The company’s subscription-based services enable healthcare professionals to make more informed medical decisions, reduce medical errors and practice more efficiently. For more information about Epocrates, please visit www.epocrates.com/company.

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