Data uit VS
http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reportinfo.asp?cat_id=0&report_id=305435&q=OTC&p=2

Sales of OTC internal analgesics declined 11% between 1999 and 2004 or 21% at constant 2004 dollars in FDM channels (not including Wal-Mart). However, the category had over $2.1 billion in sales in 2004.

At least part of the shrinkage of the OTC analgesics market since 1999 is due to growth in prescription “COX-2 inhibitor” drugs such as Celebrex and Vioxx. These drugs were approved by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) in 1998 and 1999, respectively. They appeal to many looking for effective treatment for arthritis pain without the potential upset stomach that aspirin and other prostaglandin-blockers can cause.

The past two years have brought many issues related to the safety of OTC analgesics to light. Among them are studies that show many Americans tend to overuse these types of products, as well as some well-publicized incidences of harmful consequences of OTC pain reliever usage. COX-2 inhibitors and/or prescription NSAIDS, have come under fire in the past year due to claims of serious and often fatal side effects. The drug Vioxx, a Merck drug used to alleviate arthritis symptoms, was pulled from the market in September 2004, and in April 2005, the FDA asked Pfizer to voluntarily remove Bextra from the market. OTC analgesics have yet to benefit from concerns about prescription pain relievers.

The internal analgesic industry can be segmented into two parts, based on delivery system. Tablets (which include caplets, capsules, and gelcaps, enterics, dissolvables, and chewables) comprise the larger segment, accounting for more than 90% of sales. Liquids account for the remainder.

For the purposes of this report, the analgesics market includes all oral analgesics that are available without a prescription. They contain one or more of the following ingredients:

Acetaminophen (APAP)
Aspirin (ASA)
Ibuprofen
Naproxen sodium
Excluded from this report are the following products:

Antihistamines
Decongestants
Cough remedies
Topical or external analgesics, such as liniments or pain-relief gels, creams or sprays
Sleep aids
Alertness aids
This report contains US IRI InfoScan? data.