Prescription Drugs | Non-Prescription Drugs |
Non prescription drugs are drugs that are sold over the counter, which means they are sold without a prescription from a doctor. These drugs are sold directly to the consumers as compared to prescription drugs, which requires a prescription. They are also referred as the over-the-counter (OTC) drugs. In the United States, there are more than 80 therapeutic categories of non-prescription drugs, ranging from weight control drugs to anti-acne to analgesics drugs and many more. These drugs are easily available in local chemists as well as in general stores, supermarkets, gas stations, etc.
In many countries, OTC or non-prescription drugs are selected by a regulatory agency so as to check the ingredients that are used in the making of drugs are safe and effective when used without a doctor's advise. These non-prescription drugs are usually regulated by active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), not final products. This implies that the governments allow drugs manufacturers the right to formulate ingredients, or combinations of ingredients, to make proper medicinal mixtures. Regulations related to who is authorized to dispense these drugs, to where they are to be sold, and whether a prescription is required vary considerably from country to country. In India. all the drugs that are not included in the list of prescription drugs are considered as non-prescription drugs (or OTC drugs).
Types of OTC Drugs or Non-Presciption Drugs ListNon prescription drugs usually have these characteristics:
Prescription Drugs | Non-Prescription Drugs |