Medicine is defined as the science of diagnosing and preventing disease and maintaining
health. Medicine can also be defined as a drug used to maintain health or treat a health issue. In this chapter you will focus on the definition of medicine as a drug. Drugs can ease symptoms, help prevent or manage diseases, relieve pain, and treat multiple conditions. Drugs are divided into two categories: nonprescription or over-the-counter (OTC) drugs and prescription drugs (table 12.1). Using OTC and Prescription Drugs SafelyThe U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is the government agency that decides which drugs require a prescription and which may be sold over the counter. The FDA allows new medicines to be used only if they are safe and do what they are supposed to. If a drug benefit outweighs its risks, the FDA usually approves the sale of the drug. The FDA can take a drug off the market at any time if it is found to cause harmful side effects. Side effects are effects drugs have on your body that don’t help your symptoms. To use an OTC drug safely means using the drug properly. Proper use includes reading the label of the drug and following the instructions. While an OTC drug may be helpful for some injuries or illnesses, it is important for you to be able to properly determine when something is minor and when it requires medical attention. To use prescription drugs safely, it is important you use them as they are prescribed by your doctor. When you use them as prescribed you are at a very low risk for addiction or other side effects. Addiction can be a physiological (functions of the body) or psychological (functions of the mind) need for a substance that often has physical or psychological side effects or both. Teens sometimes think that because prescription drugs are prescribed by a doctor, they are safer to use than illicit drugs. Unfortunately, when misused, prescription drugs can be just as dangerous and deadly as illicit drugs. Reading Drug LabelsIn the United States, every OTC and prescription drug has a drug facts label. The general purpose of the label is to tell you what the drug is used for and how to use it safely. Any drug can cause side effects. Following the directions on the label can lower the chance of side effects. Taking a drug as prescribed will make sure it works the way it is supposed to. It is important that you understand the different parts of the label and what they mean. Figure 12.1 shows examples of an OTC label and a prescription label. While there are similarities on both labels, there are also sections that are very different. Make sure you understand how to read each label. Figure 12.1 OTC and prescription labels.Potential Risks of Taking OTC and Prescription DrugsAlthough the benefits of taking an OTC or a prescription drug often outweigh the consequences, it is important to know that there can be some risks you should be aware of. There are four main risks.
Why is it important to know the difference between prescribed and overAlthough OTC drugs are available without consulting with a prescriber or pharmacist, the patient needs to be aware these drugs still carry a risk. Some OTC drugs could cause drug interactions with prescription medications or cause more adverse effects.
What is the difference between prescription medicine and overPrescription drugs should be taken only by the patient they are prescribed for. Over-the-counter (OTC) drugs are medications available without a prescription. Some medications are available both as a prescription and over-the-counter.
Why is it important to know the uses of prescription medicine?Simply put, not taking your medicine as prescribed by a doctor or instructed by a pharmacist could lead to your disease getting worse, hospitalization, even death.
What is the most important thing to read in reference to overAlways Read the Label
Reading the product label is the most important part of taking care of yourself or your family when using over-the-counter (OTC) medicines (available without a prescription). This is especially true because many OTC medicines are taken without seeing a doctor.
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