Pharma companies in Karnataka do not appear to be very keen to get into the lucrative OTC market unlike several big players in this industry. The companies here are of the view that sales of OTC products cannot be that huge in this market as most patients prefer prescription route as far as drugs purchases are concerned. The pharma companies also feel that the current laws on OTC in the country need to be well defined.

Some of the popular OTC brands sold in the state are Gelusil, Crocin, Nizoral, Calicum Sandoz, Garlic Pearls, Lactogen, Iodex and Seven Seas capsules.

The major players in OTC segment in the state are Micro Labs, Bal Pharma, Juggat Pharma, Bentely Remington and Bio Pharma. In the allopathy segment, The Himalaya Drug Company is a dominant player in the Ayurveda segment.

According to V R Kannan, vice president, Bal Pharma, there is a potential for certain prescription products in his company with a potential for OTC. These include Ocium calcium chewable tablets, Ketovate shampoos, Glucosomine sulphate for cartilage build-up, which is currently sold over the counter in the US by other players. "But, we are cautious on entering the OTC segment as Indian customers are not known to have an awareness about the adverse reactions in the over dosage of the OTC products," he added.

A senior official from a leading manufacturer of vitamin supplements said that advertising such brands create problem as vitamins are only prescribed when a patient has a deficiency and if taken otherwise could be harmful. The same is the case of protein supplements and calcium tablets, mild painkillers and a range of Ayurveda products, which would be better if it is routed through the prescription route. He said that there is an inherent risk in any OTC product as higher doses could be fatal, expressed Kannan.

For instance, calcium tablets were considered as a bone builder and some patients used to consume in large doses. But now studies reveal that excess consumption of calcium will cause deposits in the artery and other complications are implicated in the pathogeneses of hypertension, informed Dr. BP Gururaja Rao, physician & cardiologist in the city.

"Even Gelusil, which has created a mark for its self in the OTC segment contains aluminium and magnesium which are known to cause constipation, diarrhoea and hypertension", said Ravi N K, Cash Pharmacy who insist on a prescription for many of the products.

The role of a doctor cannot be ruled out in any drug sales. Therefore OTC products sold must be well within safety limits where in spite of over-dosage, it is not harmful, said an official from Micro Labs, a diabetic and cardiovascular major in the state which has been focussing on ethical promotion.

If OTC is allowed in allopathy segment and the products are sold freely without explaining the risk factor, the companies manufacturing them will be in for problems, as there is a tendency for over consumption of drugs in India.. In India, pharma companies should not look at look at OTC till the literacy rates improve, expressed a source from Karnataka Antibiotics and Pharmaceuticals Limited.

"Ideally OTC is safe for topical application like moisturising lotions, shampoos, creams or foot care. One should not even consume Ayurveda products for diabetes without consulting doctors as it is known to cause serious problems, informed a lecturer at the Government College of Pharmacy.

According to B Harikrishna, president, Bangalore district druggists and chemists association, promoting OTC should be done with labels indicating warnings as excess consumption could be harmful. "By choice, we do insist our retail sector not to give any drugs over the counter and also do not encourage ethical products sales without prescription even though the patient is aware of the drugs he is prescribed.

In the US, OTC products have the maximum sales and the segment is valued at $500 million. In India, 90 percent of the drugs are promoted with prescription and almost 10 percent of the 300 brands introduced in the last two years is OTC driven, informed Kannan.