Prescription and over the counter drugs

Some drugs are known as prescription drugs while others are available over the counter. Let’s take a closer look at what this means.

What are prescription drugs?

Prescription drugs are drugs that you can only buy if you have a prescription. A prescription is a written instruction that allows you to buy prescription drugs. You can only get a prescription from a medical doctor. The prescription is written on a piece of paper. Then you can go to the pharmacy with the prescription and buy these drugs. You are not allowed to buy prescription drugs without a prescription.

Some powerful painkillers, high blood pressure medication and cholesterol medication can only be purchased with a prescription.

Vicodin is a powerful painkiller that people are only allowed to buy with a prescription. (Photo by Nancy L. Stockdale and used under a creative commons license)

What are over the counter drugs?

Some drugs are known as over the counter drugs because you do not need a prescription to buy them. You can walk into a pharmacy and buy these drugs without a prescription or without even visiting a doctor at all. These drugs are often sold in supermarkets and small shops as well.