Over-the-Counter (OTC) Medicines - OTC drugs are available at any pharmacy without a prescription. Like prescription drugs, they are safe when used according to package direction or when following a medical professional's recommendations. OTC medicines, including sleep aids such as doxylamine (Unisom), antihistamines such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl) and dimenhydrinate (Dramamine), and cough supressants containing dextromethorphan (DXM), have been abused for their psychoactive effects.
Prescription Medicines - Prescription Medicines are pharmaceutical preparations that can only be obtained through a practitioner's prescription that is dispensed by a pharmacist. Prescription medicines can be divided into 2 categories: Controlled Substance Medications and Non-Controlled Substance Medications.
Controlled Substance Medications. - Controlled substance medications are prescribed to treat medical conditions such as pain, anxiety, and attention-deficit disorder. However, these medications also have the potential to cause patient harm if used improperly. For the purpose of safety and security, prescriptions for controlled substances are subject to limitations in the amount of medication that can be prescribed and dispensed. Examples include: oxycodone (ie; Percocet®), diazepam (ie; Valium®), and methylphenidate (ie; Ritalin®).
Non-controlled Substance Medications. - Non-controlled substance medications are prescribed to treat medical conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and bacterial infections. Prescriptions for non-controlled substances are not subject to some of the same limitations as controlled substance prescriptions. Examples include: metoprolol (ie; Lopressor®), metformin (ie; Avandamet®), and amoxicillin (ie; Augmentin®). For more information on non-controlled prescription medicines, please see the New York State Board of Pharmacy's Web site.