Self-Care Product Survey

Ears, eyes, nose, and throat

Nonprescription products offer preparations to treat a wide range of ears, eyes, nose, and throat (EENT)–related disorders. People with ocular complaints commonly consult a pharmacist for specific management recommendations and an estimated 40.9 million people use contact lenses in the United States. EENT discomfort is a well-documented impetus for patients to seek OTC relief in the pharmacy.

 

Eye drops for allergies........... (n = 540)

Alcon (Pataday/Zaditor).................... 51%

Visine............................................... 9%

Bausch + Lomb.................................. 7%

Refresh............................................. 3%

Clear Eyes......................................... 2%

 

Snoring cessation aid............ (n = 431)

Breathe Right................................... 32%

Nicorette........................................... 1%

CVS Health........................................ 1%

SleepRight......................................... 1%

 

Eye drops for redness............ (n = 636)

Visine.............................................. 42%

Alcon (Systane)................................ 12%

Clear Eyes....................................... 10%

Refresh............................................. 4%

Lumify.............................................. 3%

 

Snoring treatment................. (n = 460)

Breathe Right................................... 30%

CPAP................................................ 1%

SnoreStop......................................... 1%

Walgreens ........................................ 1%

Smart Nora........................................ 1%

 

Contact lens solution............. (n = 529)

Bausch + Lomb................................ 37%

Alcon.............................................. 19%

Boston.............................................. 2%

Acuvue.............................................. 1%

Equate.............................................. 1%

 

Ear ringing treatment (tinnitis).. (n = 454)

Lipo-Flavonoid................................. 16%

Similasan.......................................... 4%

Hyland’s............................................ 1%

CVS Health........................................ 1%

Sundown Naturals.............................. 1%

 

Earache relief...................... (n = 463)

Similasan........................................ 14%

Debrox.............................................. 7%

Hyland’s............................................ 6%

Tylenol.............................................. 3%

Motrin IB........................................... 2%

 

Water-blocked ear treatment.... (n = 531)

Swim Ear......................................... 21%

Debrox............................................ 16%

Auri-Dri............................................. 6%

Walgreens......................................... 1%

CVS Health........................................ 1%

 

Eye drops for dry eyes............ (n = 547)

Alcon (Systane)................................ 25%

Refresh........................................... 23%

Visine.............................................. 11%

Clear Eyes......................................... 4%

TheraTears........................................ 3%

 

Self-care survey redux

This section of Pharmacy Today’s Self-Care Product Survey is reprinted from the full survey results published in the January 2023 issue of the magazine and available online at pharmacytoday.org.

The current survey was conducted using scientifically valid methodology and determines those nonprescription products most often recommended by pharmacists in the United States to consumers.

The winners were selected based on a survey of 1,682 pharmacists practicing in the United States who gave their unaided write-in opinions on which brands they’d recommend to patients in 86 categories. The highest share of citations as Most Trusted in the category determined the winner. If the margin of citation share between the leading brands did not exceed the estimate of sampling error at 90% statistical confidence, a tie was declared.

The n value given for each category represents the total number of responding pharmacists’ recommendations.

Please also see APhAs Handbook of Nonprescription Drugs, the definitive source of professional information about OTC products. The Handbook is available online at PharmacyLibrary.com or in print in the bookstore at www.pharmacist.com.

These data may not be used without the prior permission of APhA.