What is the difference between prescription medicine and over-the-counter drugs?
Prescription medication requires a doctor's prescription, while over-the-counter medication does not. As a Pharmacy Technician, your job is to interpret and fill prescriptions written by various doctors. The interviewer wants to ensure you understand the differences between the two.
"Prescription medication requires a physician to write a prescription and is something you cannot purchase over the counter. Sometimes there is a version of the medication over the counter, but it is generally a lower strength."
"The obvious difference is that prescription medication requires a physician's prescription and is intended for just one person. For a retail position like this, it is still important for a technician to be able to answer questions on over-the-counter drugs as customers will ask many questions about them."
"Over-the-counter medications are typically available in any grocery or retail store and do not require a prescription from a physician. Having worked retail for many years, I'm familiar with helping patients pick out the best over-the-counter medication for their symptoms with the pharmacist's assistance."
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Anonymous Answer
Over the counter or OTC, prescriptions do not need a Dr's prescription, for example, Motrin and Tylenol. Prescription medicine, you need a Dr's prescription to get it specifying quantity, name, milligrams, dosage, and sig.
Rachelle's Feedback
Good! You make a clear distinction between the two.
