Over-the-counter (OTC) medicines provide consumers with safe, effective, and convenient healthcare options. While the cost savings of using OTCs are well established and known, there is a growing awareness among consumers and healthcare professionals that OTC medicines can help prevent serious illnesses and enhance quality of life.

• Smoking is the number one cause of preventable death and disease in the United States. It has been estimated to cost our nation almost $100 billion dollars in excess medical and indirect costs from disability and lost earnings. Fortunately, safe and effective pharmacologic treatments exist to help smokers quit, almost 80 percent of which are available without a doctor’s prescription. OTC nicotine replacement therapies help Americans quit smoking, save lives, and reduce healthcare costs. The cost of a full treatment course with these medicines can range up to $200-$350.
• Millions of Americans suffer from heartburn symptoms each week: one in 10 according to WebMD. The availability of heartburn medications over-the-counter to help treat these symptoms has provided tremendous benefit both to millions of individuals and the healthcare system at large. According to a 2009 survey by The Nielsen Company and CHPA, OTC therapy saves patients an average total of $174 each in office visits and medication costs annually. In addition, Nielsen and CHPA attribute $757 million in annual savings to the U.S. healthcare system based on fewer office visits. Finally, consumers report 94 percent satisfaction with their OTC treatments.
• Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death and disability in the United States, and the prevalence of heart problems continues to rise. Aspirin has been shown to be effective in preventing secondary myocardial infarctions (heart attacks). For long-term cardiovascular protection, physicians may recommend that their patients take one low-dose aspirin on a daily basis.
• Over 95 million Americans experience some kind of digestive problem, including 60 million who experience acid indigestion at least once a month and 15 million who experience acid indigestion on a daily basis. Use of OTC antacids (pills, chewables, and liquids), as well as H2 blockers, can help alleviate the symptoms of this condition. Sales of OTC antacids and H2 blockers are over $1 billion per year.
• Approximately two to four million Americans suffer from Sjogren's Syndrome, an auto-immune disease in which the body's immune system mistakenly attacks its own moisture- producing glands. There is no cure for Sjogren's Syndrome, but many of the disease’s symptoms can be treated with nonprescription drugs that, on average, cost sufferers $1,000 to $1,400 per year.
• The problem of osteoarthritis in the United States is increasing at a rapid rate, and by the year 2020, over 60 million Americans are predicted to suffer from the disease, up from 43 million in 1997. It is estimated that osteoarthritis, which is the leading cause of disability in the United States, costs $65 billion per year in medical expenses and lost productivity. Use of OTC internal and external analgesics helps to control common pain symptoms associated with the disease.
• Allergic diseases are a major cause of illness and disability in the United States, affecting 40-50 million Americans. An estimated 35 million Americans suffer from hay fever, one of the most chronic diseases in the United States. The use of OTC oral antihistamines and nasal sprays helps to alleviate the symptoms of respiratory allergies, and such topical treatments as hydrocortisone and diphendydramine can be used to treat skin allergies.
• One of the most common problems treated with over-the-counter medicines is the condition of vaginal yeast infections (candidiasis). Previously, women who were experiencing the recognizable symptoms of a reoccurrence of candidiasis were required to visit a doctor and take time off from work to treat this common condition. Because of the availability of antifungals on a nonprescription basis, there was a 15 percent reduction in doctor visits from 1990 to 1994 with an associated cost savings of $63.5 million for medical expenses and lost time from work.