Medicines that can be bought freely and medicines that cannot be boughtWhat is medicine Vol.3

So what about over-the-counter drugs? You might have thought that if you go to a drugstore, you can buy medicine just like detergent or toilet paper. It is true that there are some over-the-counter drugs that you can choose and buy yourself. However, there are some medicines that cannot be purchased without a pharmacist's explanation.

Over-the-counter medications are intended for use when symptoms are mild. Although they are more effective and have milder side effects than prescription drugs, all drugs have a risk of side effects. Over-the-counter drugs are divided into groups: drugs requiring guidance and over-the-counter drugs (Class 1, Class 2, and Class 3) in descending order of the risk of side effects. For each group, there are rules such as what kind of qualifications people have to sell, what procedures they have to follow, and where they have to be placed in the store.

So what about over-the-counter drugs? You might have thought that if you go to a drugstore, you can buy medicine just like detergent or toilet paper. It is true that there are some over-the-counter drugs that you can choose and buy yourself. However, there are some medicines that cannot be purchased without a pharmacist's explanation.

Over-the-counter medications are intended for use when symptoms are mild. Although they are more effective and have milder side effects than prescription drugs, all drugs have a risk of side effects. Over-the-counter drugs are divided into groups: drugs requiring guidance and over-the-counter drugs (Class 1, Class 2, and Class 3) in descending order of the risk of side effects. For each group, there are rules such as what kind of qualifications people have to sell, what procedures they have to follow, and where they have to be placed in the store.