The February 2009 issue of Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin (DTB) contains an editorial and three articles. The editorial discusses the results of the recent DTB online survey about three specific drugs-simvastatin, trimethoprim and tamsulosin-and responders’ opinion of these drugs being available as over-the counter (OTC) medicines. The issue also includes a review of thrombolytic therapy with alteplase for ischaemic stroke, an article on prescribing oral or intramuscular B12, and the first in a series of explanatory articles about understanding statistical terms.