Advertisement

Is L-Glutathione an over the counter drug?

Dr Chandra M Gulhati
Editor, MIMS,
New Delhi

Q: If L-Glutathione is a prescription drug as stated in one of the answers then why is it being sold at stores like GNC as an over the counter drugs?

A:Many medicines clinically and scientifically supposed to be taken on prescription are not listed under Schedule H of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act that prohibits the drugs sale without doctors prescription. There are other medicines such as paracetamol (e.g. Crocin) which are allowed to be sold Over the Counter (OTC) at chemist shops. This issue (loophole) was taken up by an NGO, Social Jurists, in Delhi High Court where the Drugs Controller General admitted that Schedule H is updated only once in several years.