Differences Between OTC And Prescription Medications
Over-the-counter (OTC) drugs can provide prompt relief for headaches and heartburn. They are accessible at groceries shops, pharmacies, gasoline stations, and various other retailers.
If you are experiencing more severe symptoms, a healthcare professional can suggest using prescription medications. These drugs must be dispensed at a pharmacy by a qualified pharmacist and are only available with a prescription.
Many medications that formerly required a prescription have started to be sold as over the counter medications. An Rx-to-OTC switch is what this is known as (“Rx” stands for “prescription”). A drug’s prescription and over-the-counter variations frequently have minor differences.
What Are The Differences Between OTC And Prescription Medications?
It can be easier to decide if you need medicine from a pharmacy or if an OTC version will work for you if you are aware of the differences between these medications. Some important things to consider when choosing drugs are listed below.
FDA Approval Procedure
Both OTC and prescription medications are subject to FDA regulation but in different ways. The New Drug Application (NDA) procedure must be followed for prescription medications. The application requires the submission of data from clinical medication trials and manufacturing process details.
The FDA regulates over-the-counter drugs through OTC drug monographs. These include the following recommendations:
- Acceptable ingredients
- Dosages
- Formulations
- Labeling specifications
A drug can be promoted and sold without further FDA evaluation or clearance as long as it adheres to an OTC monograph. To be safe and effective, OTC drugs must adhere to a set of standards. To comply with these standards, a medicine should:
- Have benefits above potential hazards.
- Possess a minimal risk of exploitation and abuse.
- Be appropriate for self-diagnosed ailments.
- Always carry labels that are easy to read.
Uses
The only person who should use a prescription is the one who was given it. Many people frequently share over-the-counter medications, such as when a family maintains a bottle of aspirin in the medical cabinet and uses it as needed.
Although OTC remedies in pill or topical form are generally acceptable to share, it is advisable to keep the items like eye and ear drops or nasal sprays for personal use only.
Access
Prescription medications can only be obtained from a pharmacy by a registered pharmacist and must first be prescribed to you by a medical professional. This means that you can only purchase prescription drugs during the regular business hours of your pharmacy.
OTC medications are often accessible without a prescription from a variety of merchants. The majority of OTC drugs are now simple to obtain at any time.