What is the Difference Between over-The-Counter and Prescription Medicines?

There are a number of differences between prescription and over-the-counter medicines, as anyone who has visited an emergency room or family physician for treatment can attest. Over-the-counter medications are generally intended for minor ailments such as indigestion, headaches or coughing, while prescription medications could be used to treat major ailments such as diabetes, cancer or heart disease, for instance. Non-prescription medicines are usually not formulated to be as strong as their prescribed counterparts, although this is not necessarily a reflection on their effectiveness.

One difference between the two kinds of medicine is access. Only qualified and licensed medical professionals can order prescription medicines for their patients, and only qualified pharmacists can fill those orders. Over-the-counter medicines, however, do not require a doctor's order, and many can be purchased at outlets other than pharmacies. A prescribed medicine is intended for a specific patient, and cannot be legally shared with others. Non-prescribed medicines, however, can be handed out to any friend, co-worker or family member suffering from the same ailment, as long as the proper dosing instructions are followed.

Another difference between the two medicines is formulation. Prescribed medicines are usually formulated to a therapeutic strength in order for the physician to provide an aggressive treatment. Unauthorized use of these drugs could end in tragedy, since there are any number of drug interactions to be considered before the patient receives the medication. Non-prescribed medicines, on the other hand, are generally formulated to a strength deemed "safe and effective" by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). If dosing instructions are followed properly, many non-prescribed medicines can be used together without fear of dangerous interactions or overdoses.

Cost is another difference between many of these medicines. Almost all prescription drug formulations are protected by patent laws for a certain number of years, which means the drug company responsible for creating a prescribed drug can price their exclusive drugs accordingly. Only one drug manufacturer may make a prescription sleep aid called Ambien®, for instance, although other drugs may accomplish similar goals. Most over-the-counter drug formulas are no longer proprietary secrets, however, so a number of companies can produce aspirin or cough syrup and compete side-by-side on store shelves.

Prescrinbed drugs are also covered under many insurance plans, which means patients only pay a small deductible for the benefits of expensive prescription medications. Non-prescribed medications are rarely covered by insurance, which means the consumer must pay the entire market price for those medicines. Some non-prescribed medicines, especially those which were once available by prescription only, can be moderately expensive, although most over-the-counter medicines for routine ailments are generally inexpensive. While a prescribed drug may or may not have a less expensive generic version, a non-prescription drug produced by a recognized company such as Bayer may have to compete with cheaper store brands or similar medications produced by lesser-known companies.