| Prescription drugs are the main pharmaceutical | | | | pains, itches and aches. Others may also be used in |
| industry products. These products are generating high | | | | curing ailments and diseases like athlete's foot and |
| revenue amounts but there are also other types of | | | | tooth decay. Migraines and other recurring problems |
| products that make up the whole pharmaceutical | | | | may also be treated using OTC drugs. |
| industry. | | | | A drug needs to be properly considered as OTC, |
| Biologics are composed of a variety of products that | | | | must be deliberated by a regulatory body if it is |
| include vaccines, antibodies, blood, blood components, | | | | indeed safe for public use and be sold over the |
| therapeutic proteins, tissues, allergenics and somatic | | | | counter. Although easily accessible, consumers must |
| cells. They are used for variety of medicinal, | | | | keep in mind that taking OTC drugs may also place |
| pharmaceutical and other important purposes. | | | | them at risks. There are OTC drugs that interact or |
| Generic drugs are used interchangeably with branded | | | | have contraindications with drinks, foods, |
| drugs in the market. Basically, a generic drug is quickly | | | | supplements and other medicines. Care must also be |
| approved in the market. Regulators of drugs would | | | | taken in administering OTC drugs especially to people |
| not necessarily require detailed testing and clinical trials | | | | with special and specific medical conditions. Pregnant |
| for generic drugs. What the manufacturer of generic | | | | women, most of all, should first consult with health |
| drugs needs to do is show evidence of the generic | | | | care providers to determine which OTC medication is |
| drugs' equivalence to the original and branded version. | | | | safe for use. An important reminder in using OTC |
| In essence, generic and original drugs have one and | | | | drugs is to keep in mind that not because you take |
| similar active ingredients. Brand names of drugs are | | | | more, it does not necessarily mean that it is better. |
| chosen and are exclusively used by the | | | | There are labels on OTC drugs which contain |
| manufacturers. What makes branded drugs more | | | | dosages, contraindications and other pertinent |
| expensive is the cost of patent. Once the patent is | | | | information. All these contained in the label must be |
| expired, the generic drug may already be marketed. | | | | understood and followed to assure you of a safe |
| Marketing of generic drugs involve no proprietary | | | | application. |
| name yet in general are as effective as branded | | | | Aspirin is one of the oldest OTC medications. |
| medicines. Generic drugs are non-proprietary which is | | | | Remember that OTC medicines are to be used even |
| why they are cheap. Therefore they are the only | | | | without supervision from a medical practitioner or |
| types of medicines that poor citizens can afford to | | | | doctor. Manufacturers of OTC drugs should abide by |
| buy. | | | | the concept that OTCs should have little potential or |
| OTC or Over-the-counter drugs are those medicines | | | | no potential at all of being used excessively. If drugs, |
| that one can buy from pharmacies and drug stores | | | | over a period of 3 to 5 years, have been proven to |
| even without prescriptions from physicians or | | | | be safe and effective as a prescribed medicine, than |
| doctors. There are many types of over the counter | | | | it may already be regarded as OTC drugs. |
| drugs in the market. There are those which relieve | | | | |