Be Drug Smart

Over-The-Counter Drugs

Americans buy more than 5 billion over-the-counter (OTC) drugs each year accounting for 60% of drugs used.*

Over 1,000 OTC drugs now contain active ingredients that in the past were only available by prescription. Claritin, Pepcid, Prilosec, Aleve, and others can now be purchased without a prescription. Analysts expect other popular drugs to follow in the years ahead.

OTC usage means savings

The following shows how using an over-the-counter drug can save you money:

• The average cost of an OTC drug is around $7
• The average cost of a generic prescription is $22.79
• The average cost of a brand name prescription is $76.29

OTC usage means quality

OTC drugs are held to the same FDA standards of drug effectiveness and safety as prescription drugs.

For more information about OTC drugs, visit:

• FDA Web site

*Source: National Center for Policy Analysis – Daily Policy Digest, September 16, 2003