The impact of over-the-counter availability of nasal sprays on sales, prescribing, and physician visits.
OBJECTIVE
The aim was to study changes in sales and prescribing of nasal decongestants containing oxymetazoline or xylometazoline, changes in number of physician visits for rhinitis and sinusitis, and changes in public expenditures for physician visits due to the switch of these drugs from prescription to over-the-counter status in Sweden in 1989.


METHODS
Retrospective registry study using the local sales statistics on medicines in the municipality of Tierp from The National Corporation of Swedish Pharmacies and the individual-based computerised registry in Tierp based on health care utilisation and drug use from the Centre for Primary Care. Analyses were carried out during the time period 1988-1995.


METHODS
The Swedish community of Tierp with about 20,000 inhabitants.


METHODS
The population of Tierp.


METHODS
Sales of nasal decongestants and dispensed prescriptions of nasal decongestants, physician visits for rhinitis and sinusitis, and public expenditures for these.


RESULTS
Sales of nasal sprays increased, while sales of nasal drops decreased. The number of dispensed prescriptions as well as physician visits decreased. The public expenditures estimated for physician visits decreased as well.


CONCLUSIONS
This study shows an increase in sales of nasal decongestants and a significant decrease in prescribing of nasal decongestants and the number of physician visits for rhinitis and sinusitis as well as the public expenditures estimated for these, after the switch from prescription to over-the counter status of nasal sprays in 1989.
Lundberg
L
L
Department of Pharmacy, Uppsala University, Sweden.
Isacson
D
D
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005102:Health Expenditures; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014663:Nasal Decongestants / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009330:Nebulizers and Vaporizers; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010109:Oxymetazoline / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000188:drug therapy; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000188:drug therapy; D013548:Sweden
D007093:Imidazoles; D014663:Nasal Decongestants; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs; D010109:Oxymetazoline; C009695:xylometazoline