OTC
Medical abbreviation · Pharmacy
| Stands for | Over-the-counter |
|---|---|
| Categories | Medical |
OTC stands for Over-the-counter, a pharmacy abbreviation also used in business.
Medicines that can be bought without a prescription, such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, loratadine and omeprazole 20 mg. In the US, OTC drugs must carry a standardized Drug Facts label listing active ingredients, uses, warnings and directions.
Example: Ask the pharmacist before mixing OTC cold medicines with your blood pressure pills.
Usage notes
The FDA regulates most OTC drugs through monographs, which set allowed ingredients and doses; the 2020 CARES Act modernized that system. Drugs move from prescription to OTC status through "Rx-to-OTC switches", recent examples being naloxone nasal spray and the Opill daily contraceptive, both approved for OTC sale in 2023. In finance, OTC means over-the-counter trading.
Related abbreviations
More pharmacy abbreviations
- NF – Non-formulary
- NS – Normal saline
- NSS – Normal saline solution
- ODT – Orally disintegrating tablet
- oint – Ointment
- OROS – Osmotic-controlled release oral delivery system
- P&T – Pharmacy and therapeutics committee
- PA – Prior authorization
- PAR – Periodic automatic replenishment
- PBM – Pharmacy benefit manager
- PDL – Preferred drug list
- PDMP – Prescription drug monitoring program
See all 134 pharmacy abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.