ABSTRACT
Although the selection and number of products sold may vary from country to country, the group of drugs or medications sold throughout the world are easily distinguishable into two general categories, namely those obtained with a doctor’s prescription and those that can be obtained without one. The latter group of products is usually classified as nonprescription drugs or over-the-counter (OTC) medications and will be the focus of this entry. After a brief background section, the entry details the self-care/self-medication movement that was aided by the rise of OTC drugs, and then moves to a discussion of the FDA regulations placed upon OTC drugs.
