Pharmacies stock a broad range of medications that you don’t need a doctor’s prescription for. Known as over-the-counter medications, they are often available from supermarkets and health food stores as well as your local chemist.

There are two types of over-the counter medications – listed and registered.

Registered medications

Medications with a risk of side effects must be registered. Before they come on to the shelf of your pharmacy they have undergone a rigorous and detailed assessment of their efficacy, safety and quality. Once they are government approved they must display an AUST R number on the label. Registered medicines include prescriptions drugs but also mild pain relievers, cough and cold medicines, antibacterial creams and anti-fungal creams.

Listed medications

These are considered to have very low or no risk. They are not assessed to see if they work, but simply for their quality and safety. Listed medications must display an AUST L number.  Vitamins, minerals and sunscreen are examples of listed medications.

Scheduling

In Australia there is regulatory control that classifies medicines on a scale from 2 to 9. Drugs of addiction are Schedule 8 and must be stored in a locked safe. Prescription-only drugs are Schedule 4. Over-the-counter drugs are the lowest classification at Schedule 2.

Sometimes a Schedule 2 drug will be reclassified as a Schedule 3 drug, (only available from a pharmacist), especially if there is potential for abuse or safety concerns.  This was the case with pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) and paracetamol products containing codeine.

For more information about over-the-counter medications, talk to your pharmacist today.