Consumer Education: Over-the-Counter Medicine

Over-the-counter medicine is also known as OTC or nonprescription medicine. All these terms refer to medicine that you can buy without a prescription. They are safe and effective when you follow the directions on the label and as directed by your health care professional.

The following materials will help you, working with your health care professionals, to choose and use over-the-counter medicine wisely.

To obtain printed copies of any of these materials, please email your request by title to: dpapubs@fda.hhs.gov. You can also call 301-796-3703 or 1-888-INFO-FDA. For more information about over-the-counter medicine, please visit the "Division of Over-the-Counter (OTC) Drug Products" Web site. 

For more information about the use of medicine in children, please visit the "Pediatric Drug Development" Web site and the "Office of Pediatric Therapeutics" Web site.

For more information about over-the-counter pain relievers and fever reducers, please visit "Safe Use of Over-the-Counter Pain Relievers (analgesics) and Fever Reducers (antipyretics)," and "COX-2 Selective (includes Bextra, Celebrex, and Vioxx) and Non-Selective Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)."

For more information on aspirin therapy, please visit "New Prescribed Uses of Aspirin: Questions and Answers," dated October 20, 1998.