What is the difference between over -the -counter and prescription drugs?

There are a number of differences between prescription drugs and over -the -counter medicines, because anyone who has visited the emergency room or family doctor for treatment can testify. Over -the -counter medicines are generally intended for minor diseases such as digestion, headaches or cough, while prescription drugs could be used, for example, to treat large diseases such as diabetes, cancer or heart disease. Over -the -counter medicines are not usually formulated to be as strong as their prescription counterparts, although it is not necessarily a reflection of their efficiency. Only qualified and licensed doctors can order prescription drugs for their patients and these orders can only be filled in by qualified pharmacists. However, prescription medicines do not require free -the -counter and many of them can be purchased in other stores than pharmacies. The prescription doctor is intended for a particular patient and cannot be legally shared with others. Drugs for free -the -counter, Howe21ver, can be distributed to every friend, collaboratorOr a family member suffering from the same disease if the right dose instructions are followed.

Another difference between prescription drugs and over -the -counter medicines is formulation. Regulation drugs are usually formulated for therapeutic power to provide an aggressive treatment. Unauthorized use of a prescription drug could end up in tragedy, as there is a number of drug interactions that need to be considered before the patient comes. On the other hand, over -the -counter medicines are generally formulated on the power considered to be "safe and effective" by food and drug management (FDA). If the dosing instructions are correctly, many over-the-counter medicines are used together without fear of dangerous interactions or overdose.

The cost is another difference between many prescription drugs and over -the -counter medicines. Almost all prescription formulations are protected by patent laws for a certain period of timeThe number of years, which means that a drug company responsible for creating a prescription drug can correspond appropriately to its exclusive drugs. For example, only one drug manufacturer can provide assistance to Ambien®, although other prescription drugs can achieve similar goals. Most of the over -the -counter medicinal patterns are no longer proprietary secrets, so many companies can produce aspirin or cough syrup and compete side by side in fields.

Regulation drugs are also covered in many insurance plans, which means that patients pay only a small deductible advantage for the benefits of expensive prescription drugs. Over -the -counter medicines are rarely covered by insurance, which means that the consumer must pay these drugs the entire market price. Some over -the -counter medicines, especially those that were once available for prescription, may be slightly expensive, although most of the over -the -counter drugs for routine diseases are generally cheap. While a prescription medicine may or may not have cheaperThe version, an over -the -counter drug produced by a recognized company, such as Bayer, may have to compete with cheaper trade brands or similar drugs produced by lesser -known companies.