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Can I get the medicine from a pharmacy?Can I get the medicine from a pharmacy?
Medicines can have detrimental effects as well as beneficial ones, so rules and regulations have been developed to ensure their safety and effectiveness. Some of these rules and regulations affect where and how you can buy medicines. As a result, some medicines can be bought from supermarkets and other retail outlets, and others can be bought only from pharmacies. Still others can be bought from pharmacies only if you have a prescription from a doctor or dentist.
Availability
The rules and regulations determining where and how you can buy a particular medicine depend on a number of factors, including:
- safety and toxicity of the active ingredient
- condition used for
- effects when used correctly
- side effects
- likelihood of accidental or deliberate misuse
- effects if taken accidentally by children
- effects of taking an overdose
- potential for people to become dependent on it
- desirability of making it easily available.
In general, the safer the medicine and the more minor the condition being treated, the fewer the restrictions on the medicine’s availability. The table below shows the main categories of medicines, their availability, and the type of conditions they are intended to treat.
In some cases, the amount of medicine in a packet may affect where and how it can be sold. As a result, small packets of some medicines are available in supermarkets and other retail outlets, but packets containing more tablets are available only in pharmacies. For example, packets of 25 or fewer tablets of paracetamol (500 mg) can be sold in supermarkets. However, packets of more than 25 tablets can be sold only in pharmacies.
Over-the-counter medicines
In general, over-the-counter medicines are intended for conditions that people can recognise themselves, and which are common, minor, self-limiting, and not life threatening.
Some over-the-counter medicines have specific rules and regulations governing their availability. ‘Pharmacist Only Medicines’ are stored behind the pharmacist’s counter. You can buy them only after seeking advice from a pharmacist to ensure that they are appropriate and safe for you. ‘Pharmacy Only Medicines’ are stored on the open shelves in pharmacies. You do not have to seek advice from a pharmacist before buying them, but if you want advice you can ask for it.
| Medicine | Safety & appropriateness in use | Conditions used for |
|---|---|---|
Prescription Only Medicines | Medicines that need a prescription from a doctor or dentist | For conditions that need diagnosis and ongoing management by a doctor. |
Pharmacist Only Medicines | Medicines that are substantially safe in use, but need professional advice from a pharmacist to ensure they are used safely and effectively. | For conditions that can be easily recognised with the help of a pharmacist, and which are amenable to short-term treatment, and can be monitored by consumers with help from a pharmacist. |
Pharmacy Only Medicines | Medicines that are substantially safe in use when obtained from a pharmacy where advice or | For conditions that can be easily recognised with the help of a pharmacist, and which are amenable to short-term treatment, and can be monitored by consumers with help from a pharmacist if necessary. |
| Medicines on open sale (Unscheduled medicines) | Labels give consumers information about when and how to use them. | For minor conditions that consumers can recognise and manage independently. |
MedicinesTalk is a free quarterly newsletter for consumers written by consumers about using medicines wisely. Subscribe to the hard copy version using our online ordering system, or write to MedicinesTalk, National Prescribing Service Limited, PO Box 1147, Strawberry Hills, NSW 2012.
Date published: 2003-08-01 00:00:00
Reasonable care is taken to provide accurate information at the date of creation. This information is not intended as a substitute for medical advice from a qualified health professional. Health professionals should rely on their own expertise and enquiries when providing medical advice or treatment. Where permitted by law, NPS disclaims all liability (including for negligence) for any loss, damage or injury resulting from reliance on or use of this information. Read our full disclaimer.
References to brands should not be taken as an endorsement by NPS.
