Over-The-Counter Drugs Are Commonly Known As Otc (Over-The-Counter) Medicine

Posted by Sachin B on May 21st, 2021

Over-the-counter drugs are commonly known as OTC (over-the-counter) medicine. These types of medicines are generally available without a doctor's prescription and can be bought directly from the retailer, without a physician's approval. Some countries have legalized the selling of over-the-counter drugs, but the US government does not. Therefore, it is illegal to sell any type of over-the-counter drugs in the US without a prescription, except those that are specifically authorized to be sold by a licensed health care practitioner under federal law.

The most common over-the-counter drugs are aspirin, painkillers, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). These are readily available in drugstores, both online and offline. Other drugs not required to be sold by a prescription are antibiotics and certain vitamins. It is up to the buyer to ask the pharmacist if a drug is meant to be sold without a prescription and to find out if it is allowed in their country. Some vitamins and drugs have been found to have harmful side effects when taken with alcohol.

Some over-the-counter drugs are not sold over the counter at all but must be prescribed by a physician. One popular example is a painkiller, such as an acetaminophen or ibuprofen. These are typically sold as a nasal spray, in pill form, or as an injection. Many other over-the-counter drugs may also be sold as a combination product called an NSAID/tension reliever. This type of drug is not intended to be taken over long periods of time, and should not be used in conjunction with alcoholic beverages.

If someone is taking over-the-counter drugs, it is important to remember that they need a prescription for these drugs. Not all over-the-counter drugs will carry a pharmacist's prescription. Many over-the-counter medications may not require a prescription before being sold.

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