When Prescription Drugs Go OTC Ads Talk Less of Harms.

    When prescription drugs become available over-the-counter, advertisements for the medications are far less likely to tell consumers about the potential harms and side effects, new research finds

   The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates ads for prescription drugs, while ads for over-the-counter drugs are regulated by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

The FTC has much less stringent standards than the FDA for what manufacturers have to reveal about products in their marketing materials, the researchers noted.

The FDA requires prescription drug advertising to provide consumers with a "fair balance" of risks and benefits -- for drug ads, that often means rattling off a lengthy list of potential side effects.

The FTC, on the other hand, holds drug advertisements to the same standards as other consumer products, requiring a "reasonable" standard of truthfulness.

      The looser requirements mean that information about potential side effects and harm aren't included in most over-the-counter drug ads

Then using a new OTC  always read the fine print and always ask your Pharmacist for possible warnings ,side-effects, and interactions with your curent drug list. And if your Pharmacist is not interested in helping you then find a new pharmacy

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