We all think we know the difference between prescription medication and the kind that you pick up on the way home for that cold, but there are other differences that are not so apparent. In short, there is a definite reason why some medication requires a prescription from a doctor. Usually the reasons are that the medication has a high potential for abuse or overdose or it is in short supply, or simply that it is so specific in it’s use that it is only practical to be given to a select few patients.

Of course, not just anyone can waltz in and get a prescription. Prescriptions, even at canadian pharmacies, require a doctors signature and recommendation, which are given out at their discretion. This helps to increase the legitimacy of the prescription, because if not the system could be abused to give certain people medicine that they don’t need. Despite the safeguards in place, the system is still misused sometimes.

It is not uncommon for an opiate addict to pay a visit to the doctor in hopes of squeezing a vicodin prescription out of it, or acting like they are in chronic pain. It is up to the doctor to determine if the patient is truly in need of the drug or if they are just out looking for a fix. Unfortunately this isn’t always easy for the doctors or the patients, because it would be rather insulting to be called out on such a thing if it really wasn’t the case. On the other hand, people would walk all over the system if there weren’t some type of firm standards in place. Finding the balance here is really important for all doctors, especially the ones who work with pain patients.

Prescription medication is typically used for more serious conditions as opposed to their over the counter counterparts, which are used to treat the common ailments like cold and allergies, for example. Prescription medicine is also far more potent, and this raises the chances of an accidental overdose, or some form of misuse.

Over the counter medicine and prescription drugs have their place, and it is up to us as the patients to be responsible about how we integrate these drugs into our lives. Our doctors also have to walk a fine line because they are dealing with powerful medications that have the potential to drastically alter someones life.