What Are Prescription Drugs and Over-the-Counter (OTC) Drugs?

Prescription drugs are medications that patients must purchase with a prescription written by a physician—for example, antibiotics. Over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, by contrast, can be purchased without a physician’s prescription; their packaging bears the “OTC” label—for instance, vitamins and cold remedies. Prescription drugs may carry more serious adverse reactions and therefore require administration under a physician’s supervision or guidance. OTC drugs are relatively safer for self-use; patients may purchase them directly from pharmacies based on their own symptoms and the instructions provided in the drug labeling—for example, for common conditions such as colds or fever.