What is the difference between prescription and non prescription medicines?

Answer 1

Prescription drugs require a prescription from a doctor to get. Non-prescription drugs can be bought by anyone. Certain eye medicine and deodorant can be considered prescription drugs that have to be ordered. Other types of drugs, like advil and other pain killers can be bough as non-prescription drugs.

Answer 2

In may countries it is possible to purchase some drugs (e.g. aspirin) over the counter at a chemists shop. The rest of the drugs that you may need to make you better will only be provided by the chemist on production of a prescription for them signed by a qualified Medical Doctor. These drugs are therfore referred to as 'prescription drugs' (e.g. antibiotics).

Answer 3

The difference between prescribed medications & OTC or over the counter medications which can be purchased in the store without a prescription, is the OTC (non prescription drugs) are drugs that readily available to the public without a prescription that are safe to use without the advice of a physician.

Any drug that is prescribed, needs to be monitored by a physician for the safety of the patients based on many factors, including more harm to the patient if not taken properly, the period of time the medication needs to be taken for, how often it should be taken and so forth.

Answer 4

Prescription medicines refer to drugs that are available only with written instructions from a doctor/dentist to a pharmacist, and are not available off the shelf.

Non-prescription medicines refer to drugs that can be sold without a prescription, usually called over-the-counter medicines.

Answer 5

Laws determine if a drug is prescribed or over-the-counter.

Answer 6

Nothing, they're both just as good.