Accessibility comes with some risks
Like other countries, UK regulators define OTC medicines as drugs which can be obtained without a prescription from a physician, and sometimes without supervision by a pharmacist. OTC medicines can be purchased at pharmacies, supermarkets, and other retail outlets. Mild pain killers, cough and cold remedies, and indigestion medicines are among the most frequently used types. Vitamins and minerals are also considered an OTC category which was, in fact, ranked second in 2021 based on sales value, behind pain killers. Although OTC drugs are less potent than prescribed drugs, they still contain the risk of being abused, leading potentially to adverse effects or even addiction. Codeine-based drugs and sedative antihistamines are among the riskiest OTC products.Home of the market leader
The United Kingdom was also home to what was considered the world’s largest OTC company, GlaxoSmithKline, or to be more accurate its GSK Consumer Healthcare division. However, in February 2022 the division’s spin-off from the parent company was finalized, forming a separate company named Haleon, but still headquartered in the UK. With an estimated share of over seven percent of the global OTC market, Haleon became, in fact, the global leader for over-the-counter products. Many well-known OTC brands are now included in Haleon’s portfolio, like for example Advil (pain), Voltaren (pain), Centrum (vitamins), Nicorette (nicotine replacement), Flonase (respiratory), and Sensodyne (oral health).
