Cost, Accessibility, and Effectiveness: What to Know About OTC and Prescription Drug Choices

OTC Vs Prescription Drugs: What’s the Key Difference

OTC or over-the-counter drugs are medications that are easily accessible and can be bought from the counter without having a prescription from a healthcare professional. Over-the-counter drugs are not specially formulated for a specific individual, which means they can be consumed and shared by other people, too, like Advil, which can be used by anyone in the family who is having symptoms of fever.

When it comes to prescription drugs, they require a regulatory order; you would need a written prescription from a healthcare professional to buy generic Medicines Online in Canada. Each prescription is tailored to the specific conditions of an individual, and medication procured sing that prescription should not be shared with others, as it can lead to adverse effects.

Think of it like this: OTCs are your first line of treatment for relief from mild conditions, while prescription drugs are used to treat moderate to serious and long-term conditions. Apart from the need for a prescription, there are other factors too that you should know before making the choice between OTC and prescription medication. Let’s discuss them one by one.

Cost: The Price of Relief

Over-the-counter drugs are generally cheaper when compared to prescription drugs, but that’s not the case every time. In this section, we will talk about the different cost-related aspects that you should consider while making the decision to choose between OTC and prescription drugs. These aspects are:

Added fee and charges:

Over-the-counter drugs can be easily obtained by visiting a general store, or when you buy medicines online, it does not involve any other cost in procuring them. When it comes to procuring prescription drugs, it has certain added costs other than the medication itself. It involves other costs like the doctor’s fee, consultation charges, and you might be advised to go through some tests that add to the cost and may require follow-up meetings with the doctor.

Insurance coverage:

Most of the health insurance policies are meant to cover the costs of prescription medications, but generally do not offer any kind of coverage for over-the-counter drugs. Some insurance policies extend the coverage for the medication required after the period of hospitalization, too. Your insurance covering the cost of your medication becomes a crucial aspect in reducing the stress on your pocket.

Using the wrong medication:

You notice the symptoms, self-diagnose the cause, and pick an OTC drug for treatment. Let’s face it, you are not a medical expert. There is a possibility that you might not buy the best OTC drug available for your condition, or might not read the instructions carefully and overdose on it. These things can make the condition worse, and now you might have to spend more. All of these issues can be prevented by opting for prescription drugs since certified medical professionals handle them.

Accessibility: How Easily Can I Get It?

As we discussed above, OTC medications do not require any prescription, which definitely makes them more accessible than prescription drugs, but there are other factors too. These factors include:

Widespread availability:

Apart from not requiring a prescription, OTC drugs are also more easily available. You can easily purchase them at retail stores, supermarkets, and pharmacies. However, prescription drugs might not be easily available like OTC medications. There is a chance that you might have to visit more than one pharmacy to get the desired prescription drug.

Geographic reach: 

OTCs have a much wider reach in different parts of the world because of fewer legal regulations on them. Prescription drugs move through a highly secure and regulated supply chain of licensed pharmacies, doctors, and hospitals. Also, the availability of prescription drugs is directly related to the medical infrastructure and presence of pharmacies and doctors, which might be scarce in rural areas.

Emergency relief:

Let’s understand this point with the help of an example. It is the middle of the night, and suddenly you experience severe pain in your stomach. The nearest hospital might be far away, and waiting till the morning can be painful. In this situation, it is better to go for an OTC drug that you already have at home, so it can provide you with instant relief.

4 Strong Angles on Effectiveness:

While choosing between prescription drugs and OTC, the real question is which is more effective. They both differ greatly when it comes to their effectiveness in terms of:

Scope of treatment:

OTCs are used to treat mild conditions like cough or fever, whereas prescription drugs are required to treat chronic conditions where extra medical attention and caution are required.

Potency and strength:

OTCs are low on potency and are not as strong as prescription drugs, which is to prevent any kind of misuse or overdose of the medication.

Targeted vs general relief:

Prescription drugs have a better targeted approach as they act on the cause of the condition or resolve the underlying condition through a systematic process. On the other hand, OTCs alleviate general symptoms like pain or a sore throat.

Consistency:

Results derived after proper treatment and intake of prescribed medication with the guidance of a doctor will give better and consistent results when compared to consuming OTC after self-diagnosing yourself.

Conclusion

Now that you know about the difference in terms of cost, accessibility, and effectiveness, you can make a wise decision for yourself when you are buying from an online pharmacy in Canada. Despite all these factors, it is important to understand that their value depends on your needs. By weighing the cost, accessibility, and effectiveness of various options, you can strike the right balance and choose the most suitable drug. In simple words, if you have a mild condition like having a cough or stomach pain that does not require any medical attention, you should go for over-the-counter drugs. But if the condition worsens or there is some serious condition that you are not able to identify on your own, you should consult a doctor right away and follow the treatment with prescription drugs.