Over-the-Counter vs. Prescription Medications: When to Choose What

What are Over-the-Counter medications?

Over-the-counter medications do not require a written prescription from a doctor to be bought and accessed. These medications differ from behind-the-counter medications (BTC), which you can purchase by asking a pharmacy member without a prescription.

Over-the-counter medications are used to treat a variety of conditions. They are very helpful in treating annoying symptoms and curing some conditions without seeing a doctor. In addition to some of the most popular and widely used medications, such as aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, etc., several other over-the-counter medications are available and approved by the FDA (food and drug administration). The medicines used to treat occasional medical conditions are listed as over-the-counter. Many products that people use every day can be classified as over-the-counter (OTC). You would be surprised to know that some products that people use daily, such as toothpaste, mouthwashes, eye drops, water removers, creams, gels, ointments that contain antibiotics, and even dandruff shampoos are listed as over-the-counter medications. Listing of over-the-counter medications depends on each country. Each county decides which medications are safe to put in the over-the-counter category.

All OTC medications are not released as OTC medications from the beginning. Some OTC medications are released as prescription medications first. After years of these medications being used under prescription requirement regulations, medications that have excellent safety records are considered to be released as over-the-counter medications. Ibuprofen and Famotidine are good examples of these medications. Usually, over-the-counter medications have a lower quantity of active ingredients in every dose than their prescription medication counterparts.

FDA and manufacturers of these medications try to balance safety and effectiveness while developing over-the-counter medications. However, not all over-the-counter medications are better tolerated than prescription medications. Some over-the-counter medications can have severe side effects.

What are prescription medications?

Prescription medications are considered safe for use only under medication supervision and require a written prescription from a certified doctor to be bought and accessed.

Prescription medications are more potent and are used to treat moderate to severe health conditions. They are the most used medications out of all types of medications. Only the person should use prescription medications to whom they have been prescribed and should not be shared with others, even if someone has similar symptoms. Sharing prescription medicines with other people can cause severe side effects and can do more harm than good. Prescription medications can become addictive and have severe or even deadly consequences when misused, so they are not as freely available as over-the-counter medications.

Prescription medications are very important in supporting the long-term health of individuals. More time, effort, and money are spent developing these medications. Their production process is complicated as well, so they are costlier than over-the-counter medications.

When to choose OTC medications?

Over-the-counter medications are best used to treat or prevent common health conditions such as cold and flu, loss of motion, nausea, pain, etc. It is important to make sure that we use OTC medications safely when we have to. The safety of any medication is based on its proper use, and the proper use of over-the-counter medicines depends on self-diagnosis, which leaves room for errors to occur.

Some of the guidelines for using the OTC medications properly are motioned below:

• Try to avoid assuming a condition and do self-diagnosis as accurately as possible.

• Do not choose a familiar brand name. Check if the active ingredient of the medicine treats your current condition.

• Try to choose a medication with one or very few active ingredients. Medicines containing active ingredients raise unnecessary risks to your well-being.

• The correct dose and precautions for over-the-counter medications are listed on the label. It also includes the conditions that make the medications a poor choice. Reading the label carefully is essential.

• Do not take any over-the-counter medicine that you are allergic to.

• Ask a pharmacist if the medication you are planning to take can cause any existing condition to worsen. If yes, do not take that particular medicine.

• If you are not sure what active ingredient is the best option for you, asking a pharmacist or a doctor is recommended.

• If you are taking or planning to take any other medications, ask your pharmacist about the reaction of these medications.

• Understand the side effects of the medication you are planning to use.

• Do not take a bigger dose than recommended or for longer than necessary.

• Stop taking the medication if it is not giving any relief, or the symptoms worsen.

• Keep it out of children's reach and sight. 

When to use prescription medications?

Prescription medications are usually not chosen by the person but recommended by a doctor. Your doctor will decide which prescription medicine, what dose, and for how long you should take it.

Here are some signs to stop taking over-the-counter medications and see a doctor:

• Your symptoms do not improve or worsen.

• The conditions are occurring frequently. Occasional conditions are usually gone once treated. If they keep coming back, they might be symptoms of a bigger problem. For example, headaches are a very common thing. Recurring headaches might be a symptom of a brain tumor or brain hemorrhage.

• If you feel your problems require medical attention.

Where to buy over-the-counter medications?

Usually, people prefer to buy their medicines from online pharmacies in Canada to save money, as online pharmacies offer lower prices. Still, over-the-counter medications are cheaper, and the price difference is not much. OTC medications are available at pharmacies, local stores, grocery stores, online retailers, etc.

Where can I buy prescription medications?

Prescription medications are usually costlier. To save money, people buy generic medicines online in Canada. People living in the United States can also buy their medications from these pharmacies. People buying their medications online have saved up to 90% on their prescription medications.

Conclusion

Over-the-counter and prescription medications are integral parts of our lives. Based on the severity and the nature of the conditions, it is decided which medication is best for an individual. If over-the-counter medications do not help with your conditions or do not provide permanent relief, consult a doctor and ensure that the conditions you are experiencing are not symptoms of some severe underlying medical conditions. We need to remember that both over-the-counter and prescription medications are designed to help us stay healthy, not to compete with each other.