In what has become a rite of summer, Pharmacy Times®, in conjunction with U.S. News & World Report, released an updated OTC Guide® listing of "top recommended health products for 2022." Now in its 26th year, the OTC Guide® provides pharmacist recommendations for more than 800 over-the-counter (OTC) brands across 149 product categories.
The purpose of the listing, according to a statement provided by Pharmacy Times™, is to provide "a go-to resource pharmacists and other health care professionals can use to prevent and treat acute ailments and illness, promote wellness and self-care, and assist patients in managing complex conditions."
Top products in some key categories include:
The listing also includes recommendations for child-specific products including:
Today in the United States an estimated 240 million people, roughly 75 percent of the population, regularly use OTC products to treat a range of ailments including everything from back pain and allergies to colds, sunburns, minor cuts, and toothaches. There are more than 300,00 OTC products on the market today, with an option for just about every malady.
Increasingly, consumers are purchasing their OTC products from retail pharmacies. Research by Arizton found retail pharmacies accounted for more than 32 percent of OTC product sales during 2020. Pharmacies share of the OTC market is forecast to increase at a rate of 3.7 percent annually through 2026.
Resources like the OTC Guide® can help pharmacists ensure patients purchase the most effective OTC products. At the same time, increased OTC product sales can provide an important source of revenue for local pharmacies.
