OTC drugs sale – how does it look like in Norway

Sale of OTC in Norway was amounted for 1 billion NOK in 2012. Total sale of medicinal product raised from 2003 by almost 23%. Statistics show 1% increase in sale of OTC in 2012 in comparison to 2011. This trade generate 12% in total drugs sale. Using the DDD sales measurements units it constitutes 15%. According to the WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology DDD is the assumed average maintenance dose per day for a drug used on its main indication in adults.

Considering analgesics the total volume of paracetamol increased in 6% while ibuprofen decrease by 2% and in the total fraction they consist 55% OTCs. Xylometazoline is one and only member of group nasal decongenstants which is available outside of the pharmacies, total sale of this increased by 7% in 2012. Non-pharmacy nicotine replacement drugs sale increase from 31 to 35%, in drugstores it increases by 7%. Sale of emergency contraception in 2012 is constant in comparison to 2011. Regarding OTC antihistamines, the cetirizine sale increased by 18%, while in non-pharmacy stores number sailed antihistamines raised by 9%. 

Figure 1: Top 10 drugs sale ranged in total costs in million NOK.

Figure 2: Top 10 drugs ranged in sale in million DDDs.

Comparing the sale of top 10 drugs in Norway considering DDD units first place is sodium fluoride used in osteoporosis and other pathological loss of bones density. From the other hand, regarding total costs it placed on 6^th position with 54 million NOK. Vitamin C was placed on 2^nd position in DDD juxtaposition. Countering in selling takes 10^th rank with 27 million NOK. Xylometazolin takes 3^rd place in DDD, considering total costs it is out of Top 10. It is used in obstruction of the nasal passages caused by swelling of the nasal mucosa in acute rhinitis. First place in total costs belongs to nicotine replacement products with 323 million NOK, while in DDD ranges at 7^th place ex aequo with ferric sulphate and cetirizine. 2^nd and 3^rd places corresponds respectively for paracetamol (297 million NOK) and ibuprofen (219 million NOK), both are used for pain relieving and have anti-inflammatory effect. Regarding their trade in DDDs they placed on 4^th and 5^th positions. Despite nobody knows how paracetamol exactly works, Norwegian were more likely to use it than ibuprofen.

By 2015 worldwide market for OTC could excess 70 billion $ according to prognosis and report  Visiongain (British research company). Up to the 2017 may rich 106.3 billion $ and it is expected to grow as a conclude of demographic and economical trends. Overall, now more than 700 drugs are medicines available without prescription, while 30 years ago required recipe. There is possibility to expand the boundaries and in future it is predicted that more patient would pick OTC instead wasting their time, go to the doctor and took prescription for proper medicine.  

Sources:
Stone K. What You Need to Know About the Over-The-Counter Drug Industry [Internet]. About.com Pharma. 2014 [cited 2014 Aug 7]. Available from: http://pharma.about.com/od/Over-the-Counter-Medicine/a/The-Over-the-counter-Drug-Industry.htm
Solveig Sakshaug, Hanne Strřm, Christian Berg, Hege Salvesen Blix, Irene Litleskare, Tove Granum, Legemiddelstatistikk 2013:1, Legemiddelforbruket i Norge 2008–2012, Drug Consumption in Norway 2008–2012

Hanna Banasiak