[Exclusive] 2,151 Cases of Side Effects Reported from Over-the-Counter Drugs Sold at Convenience Stores Over 5 Years

Annual Average of 430 Cases, 3.4 Times Increase Since 2012
Tylenol Tablets and Children's Brufen Syrup Most Frequent
Assemblywoman Jeong Chunsuk "Public Late-Night Pharmacies Should Be Expanded"

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] Over the past five years, the number of adverse reaction reports related to over-the-counter drugs such as antipyretic analgesics and digestive aids sold at convenience stores totaled 2,151 cases, averaging 430 cases annually. This figure is 3.4 times higher than the 124 adverse reaction reports recorded at the beginning of the system's implementation in 2012.

According to the 'Adverse Reaction Reports and Convenience Store Supply Status by Over-the-Counter Drugs' submitted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety to Rep. Jung Chun-sook of the Democratic Party, chairperson of the National Assembly Health and Welfare Committee, the number of adverse reaction reports for over-the-counter drugs was 352 in 2017, 615 in 2018, 439 in 2019, 437 in 2020, and 308 in 2021.

By drug type, antipyretic analgesics such as Tylenol 500mg tablets (48.9%) and Children's Brufen syrup (17.2%) accounted for the majority of adverse reaction reports. This was followed by Bease tablets (11.7%), Tylenol 160mg tablets (10%), Shinshin Pas Arex (3.7%), Children's Tylenol suspension (3.7%), Pancol-A oral solution (1.3%), and Children's Tylenol 80mg tablets (1.1%).

The government allowed certain over-the-counter drugs, which can be purchased at pharmacies without a doctor's prescription, to be sold at convenience stores starting in 2012. Currently, 13 over-the-counter drugs are sold as safety over-the-counter drugs at convenience stores. The supply volume of these drugs has been increasing, with 123.08 million units in 2017, 125.9 million units in 2018, 132.48 million units in 2019, 127.36 million units in 2020, and 146.85 million units in 2021.

Rep. Jung stated, "The sale of safety over-the-counter drugs at convenience stores, introduced to increase public access to medicines, is instead threatening public health," and pointed out, "Expanding public late-night pharmacies is more necessary than increasing the number of safety over-the-counter drug items."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.