Over the counter medicines can be bought by general public without the doctor´s prescription. They are usually safe and effective for minor conditions and ailments such as mild pain, fever, cough, heartburn, acne, constipation or diarrhoea.

Examples of OTC drugs can be:

Many OTC medicines were previously accessible only with a prescription but now they can be bought freely. An example can be stomach acid blocker ranitidine used for heartburn.

There exists a restricted group of over the counter medicines, which are kept behind the counter in the pharmacy and can be dispensed only by the pharmacist. What´s more, some of them require customer´s identification and signature, such as products containing pseudoephedrine.

Although such drugs don´t require prescription, they still carry a risk as there is the possibility of overdose, drug interactions or side effects. That´s why patients should read carefully the leaflet with drug facts, consult with a pharmacist or a doctor any concerns about these drugs. Pregnant women, patients with diabetes, heart or kidney problems should always speak with their doctor before taking any medication.