OTC Medications - Understanding Over-the-Counter Drugs
OTC Medications FAQ
What are OTC medicines?
OTC medicines can be supplied as: general sales medicines that are not included in any of the Schedules to the Poisons Standard. Medicines are grouped into schedules according to the appropriate level of regulatory control over their availability to consumers.
Where can I buy OTC medicines?
There are OTC medicines you can only buy in pharmacies, but you can buy other medicines in general shops, such as supermarkets and health food stores. Speak to a pharmacist for healthcare advice before buying OTC medicines. You might experience side effects from OTC medicines and they can interact with your prescription or other medicines.
How do OTC drugs work?
OTC medicines treat a variety symptoms due to illness including pain, coughs and colds, diarrhea, heartburn, constipation, acne, and fungal infections. These drugs are usually located on shelves in pharmacies, grocery stores, gas stations and even online.
What are over the counter (OTC) medicines?
Over the counter (OTC) medicines are sold without a doctor’s prescription and have undergone a full TGA pre-market evaluation of their safety, quality, and efficacy before being supplied in the marketplace. Over the counter (OTC) medicines have an ‘AUST R’ identification number that must be displayed on the label and packaging.
OTC Medications References
If you want to know more about OTC Medications, consider exploring links below:
What Is OTC Medications
- https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/over-the-counter-medicines
- https://www.drugs.com/otc/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Over-the-counter_drug
- https://www.merckmanuals.com/home/drugs/over-the-counter-drugs/overview-of-over-the-counter-drugs
- https://medlineplus.gov/overthecountermedicines.html
- https://www.fda.gov/drugs/buying-using-medicine-safely/understanding-over-counter-medicines
- https://www.bupa.com.au/healthlink/health-conditions/pain/over-the-counter-pain-medication
- https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/over-counter-medicines
- https://www.tga.gov.au/australian-regulation-over-counter-medicines