Over the Counter Law & Legal Definition
Over-the-counter (OTC) refers to medicines you can buy without a prescription from your doctor. Over-the-counter (OTC) drugs play an increasingly vital role in America's health care system. There are more than 80 therapeutic categories of OTC drugs, ranging from acne drug products to weight control drug products. OTC drugs generally have these characteristics:
- their benefits outweigh their risks
- the potential for misuse and abuse is low
- consumer can use them for self-diagnosed conditions
- they can be adequately labeled
- health practitioners are not needed for the safe and effective use of the product
Chances are, you've used OTC medicines many times to relieve pain and treat symptoms of the common cold, the flu, and allergies. Four of the most common types of OTC products are:
- Pain relievers
- Antihistamines
- Decongestants
- Cough medicines
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