drugs
Overview of Drugs
Prescription drugs or nonprescription drugs
By law, drugs are divided into two categories: prescription drugs and nonprescription drugs. Prescription drugs—those considered safe for use only under medical supervision—may be dispensed only with a prescription from a licensed professional with governmental privileges to prescribe (for example, a doctor, dentist, podiatrist, nurse practitioner, physician's assistant, or veterinarian). )—are Overview of Over-the-Counter Drugs . In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is the government agency that decides which drugs require a prescription and which may be sold over the counter. Overview of Dietary Supplements (for example, medicinal herbs and nutraceuticals) are products intended to supplement the diet. These products may contain vitamins, amino acids, minerals, and herbs or other plant-derived material (botanicals). Because dietary supplements are not classified as drugs, they do not require FDA approval before marketing and do not have to meet the same standards as drugs for 