E-drug: selfmedication policies, guidelines, EDL? (cont'd)
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Hi Colleagues,
Peter Mansfield omitted one very useful 'home remedy' often used
in the management of the common cold. Here is Scotland we use a
decoction of malted barley, distilled and matured (helpful if it is
prepared in advance - 10 or 15 years in advance!). A small aliquot,
mixed with two teaspoonsful of honey and hot water to taste, is
imbibed slowly while sitting beside a red-glowing, peat fire. I am
not sure that this remedy has been fully assessed through
appropriate testing, but the anecdotal evidence suggests that it has
little effect on the outcome of the disease, but it does make one
feel better about life in general. The remedy goes under several
names but we know it as a 'toddy'.
On a more serious note, Peter raises a valid point about the conflict
of appropriate advice versus the loss of a sale. Maybe this takes
place at a more subliminal level to the extent that the selection of
treatment will also be limited to those medicines that are available
at the time of consultation. Another aspect that concerns me is that
there is little data regarding the efficacy, or comparative efficacy, of
OTC medicines so that it is hard to give advice based on good
evidence.
Best wishes,
Tim Dodd
Pharmaceutical Consultant, Scotland
e-mail: Cath_and_Tim_Dodd@compuserve.com
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