Objective: To create a heightened awareness of the proposals for nonprescription product labeling changes being explored by the Food and Drug Administration and the Nonprescription Drug Manufacturers Association, and to review selected new self-care products that are now available in the United States.
Data sources: Recent clinical and pharmaceutical industry literature.
Data synthesis: The debate continues about what constitutes sufficient labeling information for a nonprescription drug product. However, one fact remains. Numerous nonprescription drug products, including home diagnostic products and accessories, will continue to become available on the U.S. market. It is important that the pharmacist become as knowledgeable as possible about these products, and be capable of educating consumers on their appropriate use.
Conclusion: New products cited in this review article are valuable new additions to the self-care product pool that provides an increasing array of products for consumer use.