Comment by bpodgursky
18 days ago
This is a vacuous statement because in much of the world (ie most of the developing world), there's no such thing as "prescription only" medicine, people can buy whatever they want over the counter.
18 days ago
This is a vacuous statement because in much of the world (ie most of the developing world), there's no such thing as "prescription only" medicine, people can buy whatever they want over the counter.
No… The rest of the first world countries as a counter example.
?
In Germany, I cannot buy ibuprofen, paracetamol (acetamenophen), or ASS (Aspirin - TM Bayer) at a grocery or "Drogerie" (place to buy cosmetics and other health & beauty items). I have to go to a pharmacy and ask for it at the counter - truly "OTC", and they're expensive compared to their US retail equivalents. That said, most common prescription drugs are significantly cheaper in Germany than in the US, even without insurance.
Antibiotics are definitely prescription-only, as are birth control and morning after ("Plan B") pills. I was once able to talk an airport pharmacy into selling me an albuterol inhaler without a script in hand, but only when I promised that I'd had it before and explained how to use it, and that I was about to get on a flight.