Definition and Regulation of Prescription Drugs
- A prescription drug is a pharmaceutical drug that requires a medical prescription for dispensing.
- Over-the-counter drugs can be obtained without a prescription.
- Prescription drugs are regulated to prevent misuse, drug abuse, and unlicensed medical practice.
- Different jurisdictions have varying definitions of prescription drugs.
- Prescription drugs are often accompanied by a monograph or patient information leaflet.
- Regulation of prescription drugs requires reliable medical references and primary sources.
- Australia has the Standard for the Uniform Scheduling of Medicines and Poisons (SUSMP) to govern drug manufacture and supply.
- Australia categorizes drugs into different schedules based on their potential risks and restrictions.
- Prescription drugs in Australia are often covered by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) to ensure affordable access.
- The United Kingdom has the Medicines Act 1968 and Prescription Only Medicines (Human Use) Order 1997 to regulate prescription drugs.
- The United Kingdom categorizes medicines as prescription-only medicines (POM), pharmacy medicines (P), and general sales list (GSL) medicines.
- Possession of a prescription-only medicine without a prescription is legal unless covered by the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.
- Medical practitioners, dentists, nurses, paramedics, and pharmacists can prescribe medicines in the UK.
- NHS prescriptions in England have a standard charge, while prescriptions are free in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland for certain patients.
- Private prescriptions can be issued by private medical practitioners, and patients pay the normal price for medicine outside the NHS.
- The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act in the United States defines legend drugs that require a prescription.
- Authorized prescribers in the US include physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, veterinarians, dentists, and optometrists.
- Controlled substances are regulated by the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) and classified into five schedules based on their potential for abuse.
- Prescription drug safety and effectiveness in the US are regulated by the Prescription Drug Marketing Act (PDMA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
- Over-the-counter drugs (OTC) are available without a prescription for conditions that do not require professional care and meet safety standards.
Prescription Drugs in Australia
- Australia categorizes drugs into schedules, including defunct drugs, pharmacy medicines, prescription-only medicines, caution/poison drugs, and controlled drugs.
- Qualified health practitioners, such as physicians, prescribe drugs in Australia.
- The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) provides subsidized prescription drugs to Australian residents.
- Patients under the PBS pay a co-payment contribution, with reduced fees for government entitlements and RPBS beneficiaries.
- Pharmacies can discount co-payments by up to A$1.00 at cost.
Prescription Drugs in the United Kingdom
- The United Kingdom categorizes medicines as prescription-only medicines (POM), pharmacy medicines (P), and general sales list (GSL) medicines.
- Possession of a prescription-only medicine without a prescription is legal unless covered by the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.
- Medical practitioners, dentists, nurses, paramedics, and pharmacists can prescribe medicines in the UK.
- NHS prescriptions in England have a standard charge, while prescriptions are free in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland for certain patients.
- Private prescriptions can be issued by private medical practitioners, and patients pay the normal price for medicine outside the NHS.
Prescription Drugs in the United States
- The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act in the United States defines legend drugs that require a prescription.
- Authorized prescribers in the US include physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, veterinarians, dentists, and optometrists.
- Controlled substances are regulated by the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) and classified into five schedules based on their potential for abuse.
- Prescription drug safety and effectiveness in the US are regulated by the Prescription Drug Marketing Act (PDMA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
- Over-the-counter drugs (OTC) are available without a prescription for conditions that do not require professional care and meet safety standards.
Additional Topics
- OTC drugs are regulated by the FDA.
- Dietary supplements require informed decisions from consumers.
- Non-members can use pharmacy services at membership club pharmacies.
- Physicians can prescribe drugs for off-label use.
- Drug companies are prohibited from marketing drugs for off-label uses.
- Certain prescription drugs are commonly abused.
- Unintentional poisoning deaths in the US have increased since the 1990s.
- Regulatory tactics have been implemented to curtail opioid use and misuse.
- Expiration dates are determined by FDA regulations.
- FDA advises against using products after their expiration dates.
- Prescription drug prices vary worldwide.
- Biosimilar and generic drugs are usually less expensive than brand names.
- Generics undergo strict scrutiny to meet the same standards as brand name drugs.
- Brand name drugs cost more due to research and development expenses.
- Switching to generic drugs can result in significant cost savings.
- Patients can lower costs through copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles.
- Generic drug programs reduce out-of-pocket expenses for generic drugs.
- Co-pay assistance programs help lower costs of specialty medications.
- Patient assistance programs are available for uninsured patients.
- Many providers and patients are unaware of available resources.
- Traces of prescription drugs have been detected in drinking water.
- Pharmaceuticals may not be eliminated entirely by sewage treatment plants.
- Discarded pharmaceuticals may interact with other environmental chemicals.
- Aquatic organisms are susceptible to the effects of pharmaceuticals.
- Harm to aquatic animals and fauna has been observed, with potential human health concerns.
Prescription drug Data Sources
| Reference | URL |
|---|---|
| Glossary | https://www.alternix.com/blogs/glossary-of-terms/prescription-drug |
| Wikipedia | http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prescription_drug |
| Wikidata | https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1643563 |
| Knowledge Graph | https://www.google.com/search?kgmid=/m/01_7r6 |
