What are over-the-counter (OTC) medicines?
OTCs are medicines that are available to consumers without a prescription. There are approximately 800 OTC active ingredients available today that constitute over 100,000 OTC products in the healthcare marketplace. They are sold in a variety of outlets such as pharmacies, grocery stores, convenience stores, mass merchandise retailers, etc. OTCs are used by millions of consumers each year to treat a wide range of health ailments such as coughs and colds, backaches, and heartburn. OTC medicines should not be confused with dietary supplements (vitamins, minerals, herbals, and botanicals).
