Status of certain additional over-the-counter drug category II and III active ingredients. Final rule

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is issuing a final rule stating that the stimulant laxative ingredients aloe (including aloe extract and aloe flower extract) and cascara sagrada (including casanthranol, cascara fluidextract aromatic, cascara sagrada bark, cascara sagrada extract, and cascara sagrada fluidextract) in over-the- counter (OTC) drug products are not generally recognized as safe and effective or are misbranded. This final rule is part of FDA's ongoing OTC drug product review.     

Anorectal drug products for over-the-counter human use. Final rule

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is issuing a final rule establishing that any over-the-counter (OTC) drug product containing a combination of hydrocortisone and pramoxine hydrochloride (HCl) for anorectal use is not generally recognized as safe and effective and is misbranded. This combination product is not currently marketed OTC. This final rule discusses data on the combination of hydrocortisone and pramoxine HCl that were still under review when an earlier final rule on OTC anorectal drug products was issued. This rule is part of FDA's ongoing review of OTC drug products.     

Tamper-evident packaging requirements for over-the-counter human drug products--FDA. Final rule

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is amending its regulations on tamper-resistant packaging to require that all over-the-counter (OTC) human drug products marketed in two-piece, hard gelatin capsules be sealed using a tamper-evident technology; to change the term "tamper-resistant" in the labeling of all OTC drug products to "tamper-evident;" and to specify that the required OTC drug product labeling statement must refer to all packaging features used to comply with the tamper-evident packaging requirements, including those on the secondary package, the immediate container or closure, and any capsule sealing technologies used. FDA is taking this action as a result of its continuing review of the potential public health threat posed by product tampering and to improve consumer protection by addressing specific vulnerabilities in the OTC drug market.     

Ingrown toenail relief drug products for over-the-counter human use. Final rule

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is issuing a final rule establishing conditions under which over-the-counter (OTC) ingrown toenail relief drug products containing sodium sulfide 1 percent in a gel vehicle are generally recognized as safe and effective and not misbranded. This rule also amends the regulation that lists nonmonograph active ingredients in OTC drug products for ingrown toenail relief by removing sodium sulfide from that list. This final rule is part of FDA's ongoing review of OTC drug products.     

Labeling of diphenhydramine-containing drug products for over-the-counter human use. Final rule

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is issuing a final rule amending the final monographs for over-the-counter (OTC) antiemetic, antihistamine, antitussive, and nighttime sleep-aid drug products to add a warning statement for oral products containing diphenhydramine citrate or diphenhydramine hydrochloride. The warning advises consumers not to use oral OTC diphenhydramine products with any other product containing diphenhydramine, including products used topically. This final rule also includes the agency's conclusions on additional warning statements and a direction statement for OTC external analgesic drug products containing diphenhydramine hydrochloride. These conclusions will be incorporated into the final monograph for OTC external analgesic drug products in a future issue of the Federal Register. FDA is issuing this final rule after considering public comments on the agency's proposed regulation and all new data and information on drug products containing diphenhydramine that have come to the agency's attention     

Antiperspirant drug products for over-the-counter human use; final monograph. Final rule

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is issuing a final rule in the form of a final monograph establishing conditions under which over-the-counter (OTC) antiperspirant drug products are generally recognized as safe and effective and not misbranded as part of FDA's ongoing review of OTC drug products. FDA is issuing this final rule after considering public comments on its proposed regulation, issued as a tentative final monograph (TFM), and all new data and information on antiperspirant drug products that have come to the agency's attention.     

Antidiarrheal drug products for over-the-counter human use; final monograph. Final rule

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is issuing a final rule in the form of a final monograph establishing conditions under which over-the-counter (OTC) antidiarrheal drug products (to control the symptoms of diarrhea) are generally recognized as safe and effective and not misbranded. This final rule is part of FDA's ongoing review of OTC drug products. FDA is issuing this final rule after considering public comments on the agency's proposed regulation, which was issued in the form of a tentative final monograph (TFM), and all new data and information on OTC antidiarrheal drug products that have come to the agency's attention. Also, this final rule amends the regulation that lists nonmonograph active ingredients by adding those OTC antidiarrheal active ingredients that have been found to be not generally recognized as safe and effective.     

Skin protectant drug products for over-the-counter human use; final monograph. Final rule

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is issuing a final rule in the form of a final monograph establishing conditions under which over-the-counter (OTC) skin protectant drug products are generally recognized as safe and effective and not misbranded as part of the ongoing review of OTC drug products conducted by FDA. The final monograph includes OTC skin protectant drug products for minor cuts, scrapes, burns, chapped skin and lips, poison ivy, poison oak, poison sumac, and insect bites. FDA is issuing this final rule after considering public comments on the agency's proposed regulation, which was issued in the form of a tentative final monograph, and all new data and information on skin protectant drug products for these specific uses that have come to the agency's attention. This final rule amends the regulation that lists nonmonograph active ingredients by adding those OTC skin protectant ingredients that have been found to be not generally recognized as safe and effective. This final rule also lifts the stay of 21 CFR part 352 (published at 66 FR 67485, December 31, 2001) to amend the final monograph for OTC sunscreen drug products to include sunscreen-skin protectant combination drug products, and then stays Sec. 347.20(d) (21 CFR 347.20(d)) and part 352 until further notice in the Federal Register.     

Labeling and effectiveness testing; sunscreen drug products for over-the-counter human use. Final rule

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is issuing this document to address labeling and effectiveness testing for certain over-the counter (OTC) sunscreen products containing specified active ingredients and marketed without approved applications. This document addresses labeling and effectiveness testing issues raised by the nearly 2,900 submissions that we received in response to the sunscreen proposed rule of August 27, 2007 (2007 proposed rule). The document also identifies specific claims that render a product that is subject to this rule misbranded or would not be allowed on any OTC sunscreen product marketed without an approved application. The document does not address issues related to sunscreen active ingredients or certain other issues regarding the GRASE determination for sunscreen products. The document requires OTC sunscreen products to comply with the content and format requirements for OTC drug labeling contained in the 1999 Drug Facts final rule (published in the Federal Register of March 17, 1999, by lifting the delay of implementation date for that rule that we published on September 3, 2004).     

Antidiarrheal drug products for over-the-counter human use; amendment of final monograph. Final rule

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is issuing a final rule amending the final monograph (FM) for over-the-counter (OTC) antidiarrheal drug products to include relief of travelers' diarrhea as an indication for products containing bismuth subsalicylate. Travelers' diarrhea occurs in travelers and is most commonly caused by an infectious agent. This final rule is part of FDA's ongoing review of OTC drug products.     

Pediculicide drug products for over-the-counter human use; amendment of final monograph. Final rule

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is issuing a final rule amending the final monograph (FM) for over-the-counter (OTC) pediculicide drug products to revise labeling for the statement of identity, warnings, directions, and other required statements. Pediculicide drug products are used for the treatment of head, pubic (crab), and body lice. FDA is issuing this final rule as part of its ongoing review of OTC drug products after considering public comment on its proposed regulation and all relevant data and information that have come to the agency's attention.     

Laxative drug products for over-the-counter human use. Food and Drug Administration, HHS. Final rule

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is issuing a final rule establishing that the over-the-counter (OTC) stimulant laxative ingredients danthron and phenolphthalein are not generally recognized as safe and effective and are misbranded. FDA is issuing this final rule as part of its ongoing review of OTC drug products after considering data and information on the safety of danthron and phenolphthalein.     

Topical antifungal drug products for over-the-counter human use; amendment of final monograph. Final rule

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is issuing a final rule amending the final monograph for over-the-counter (OTC) topical antifungal drug products to add the ingredient clotrimazole as generally recognized as safe and effective for the treatment of athlete's foot, jock itch, and ringworm. This final rule is part of FDA's ongoing review of OTC drug products.     

Confidentiality of certain medical records--VA. Final rule

This document establishes Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) regulations to implement specific provisions of the Veterans Omnibus Health Care Act of 1976 and the Veterans' Benefits and Services Act of 1988 concerning the confidentiality of certain medical records. These regulations protect the confidentiality of VA records pertaining to drug abuse, alcoholism or alcohol abuse, infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and sickle cell anemia.     

Drug labeling; orally ingested over-the-counter drug products containing calcium, magnesium, and potassium. Final rule

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is amending the general labeling provisions for over-the-counter (OTC) drug products to require that the labeling of all OTC drug products intended for oral ingestion include: The calcium content per dosage unit when the product contains 20 milligrams (mg) or more per single dose; a warning statement that persons with kidney stones and persons on a calcium-restricted diet should ask a doctor before using when the product contains more than 3.2 grams (g) of calcium in the labeled maximum daily dose; the magnesium content per dosage unit when the product contains 8 mg or more per single dose; a warning statement that persons with kidney disease and persons on a magnesium-restricted diet should ask a doctor before using if the product contains more than 600 mg magnesium in the labeled maximum daily dose; the potassium content per dosage unit when the product contains 5 mg or more per single dose; and a warning statement that persons with kidney disease and persons on a potassium restricted diet should ask a doctor before using if the product contains more than 975 mg potassium in the labeled maximum daily dose. FDA is issuing this final rule in order to provide uniform calcium, magnesium, and potassium content and warning labeling for all OTC drug products intended for oral ingestion whether marketed under an OTC drug monograph, the ongoing OTC drug review, a new drug application (NDA) or abbreviated new drug application (ANDA), or no application.     

Drug labeling; sodium labeling for over-the-counter drugs. Final rule

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is issuing a final rule amending the regulations for sodium labeling for over-the-counter (OTC) drug products by extending the sodium content labeling requirement to rectal drug products containing sodium phosphate/sodium biphosphate (sodium phosphates). FDA is taking this action because people with certain medical conditions are at risk for an electrolyte imbalance to occur when using rectal sodium phosphates products. Serious adverse events and deaths have occurred because of the high level of sodium present in these products. This final rule is part of FDA's ongoing review of OTC drug products.     

Compensation for certain undiagnosed illnesses--VA. Final rule

This document adopts as a final rule the provisions of an interim final rule which amended the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) adjudication regulations regarding compensation for disabilities resulting from undiagnosed illnesses suffered by Persian Gulf Veterans. This amendment is necessary to expand the period within which such disabilities must become manifest to a compensable degree in order for entitlement for compensation to be established. The intended effect of this amendment is to ensure that veterans with compensable disabilities due to undiagnosed illnesses that may be related to active service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during the Persian Gulf War may qualify for benefits.     

Laxative drug products for over-the-counter human use; psyllium ingredients in granular dosage forms. Final rule

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is issuing a final rule establishing that over-the-counter (OTC) laxative drug products in granular dosage form containing the bulk-forming psyllium ingredients (psyllium (hemicellulose), psyllium hydrophilic mucilloid, psyllium seed, psyllium seed (blond), psyllium seed husks, plantago ovata husks, and plantago seed) are not generally recognized as safe and effective (GRASE) and are misbranded. This final rule includes, but is not limited to, any granules that are swallowed dry prior to drinking liquid; dispersed, suspended, or partially dissolved in liquid prior to swallowing; chewed, partially chewed, or unchewed, and then washed down (or swallowed) with liquid; or sprinkled over food. FDA is issuing this final rule after considering reports of esophageal obstruction associated with the use of psyllium laxatives in granular dosage form. These cases continue to occur despite efforts to promote safe use through label warnings and directions. This final rule does not apply to psyllium laxatives in nongranular dosage forms, such as powders, tablets, or wafers. This final rule is part of FDA's ongoing review of OTC drug products.     

Compensation for certain undiagnosed illnesses--VA. Final rule

This document amends the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) adjudication regulations to authorize compensation for disabilities resulting from the undiagnosed illnesses of Persian Gulf veterans. This amendment provides the necessary regulatory framework to allow the Secretary to pay compensation under the authority granted by the Persian Gulf War.     

Sunscreen drug products for over-the-counter human use; final monograph. Food and Drug Administration, HHS. Final rule

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is issuing a final rule in the form of a final monograph establishing conditions under which over-the-counter (OTC) sunscreen drug products are generally recognized as safe and effective and not misbranded as part of FDA's ongoing review of OTC drug products. FDA is issuing this final rule after considering public comments on the agency's proposed regulation, which was issued in the form of a tentative final monograph, and new data and information on sunscreen drug products that have come to the agency's attention. FDA is also issuing final rules regarding the labeling of certain cosmetic products to inform consumers that these products do not provide protection from the sun.