TY - JOUR T1 - Off the prescription pad and over the counter: the trend toward drug deregulation grows JF - Canadian Medical Association Journal JO - CMAJ SP - 387 LP - 389 VL - 152 IS - 3 AU - P. P. Morgan AU - L. Cohen Y1 - 1995/02/01 UR - http://www.cmaj.ca/content/152/3/387.abstract N2 - In the future, regulatory agencies may authorize the switch of more drugs from prescription-only to over-the-counter status. This could have the double effect of reducing the number of doctor visits and cutting drug costs. Although some physicians worry about the escape of reasonably potent drugs from medical surveillance, pharmacists are assuming a more significant counselling and medication-tracking role. This article looks at the negative and positive sides of drug deregulation from the perspectives of the physician, pharmacist and patient. ER -