Why do doctors prescribe drugs which are available over the counter?

Question

I was prescribed 500mg Naproxen twice a day, for which I got a prescription filled. Why don't docs just tell patients to take over-the-counter Naproxen (Aleve for example)? Is this some kind of scheme for the pharmaceuticals industry to keep making money on a drug now available in otc generic form?

Answer 1

patients go to a doctor's office and expect a prescription, so doctors comply.  in the future, educate yourself as to your diagnosis and treatment.  ask you doctor questions that will empower you to have choice in your medical decisions.

Answer 2

In the past I've been given prescriptions for OTC meds. It was for a dosage strength not available OTC. I thought I could just take enough of the OTC to equal the dosage, but my stomach disagreed. The use of buffers in the OTC were more than my body was ready for.

Answer 3

I think alto of doctors figure everybody has some kind of medical plan where they can be reimbursed for the prescription, or can have the costs covered at point of purchase.

Answer 4

The prescription naproxen 500 mg (Naprosyn) is a different salt from the one in prescription Anaprox/OTC Aleve, and has different pharmacodynamics, though not by a lot.

But we do prescribe OTC drugs. Sometimes it's as a favor to those who can share the cost when it's covered by insurance, and sometimes it's because people just want and/or expect a prescription. You'd be surprised how often I have patients ask for a prescription after I've gone through a lot of trouble explaining why they don't need one, and in my specialty (emergency medicine), it's hard not to look on that as a waste of valuable time.

Answer 5

If he prescribed it, then it's really up to you to know if it's available OTC. In my opinion, doctors are not in cohoots with the pharmaceutical industry. They are completely ignorant about what is available OTC, and about the cost of medication. I was prescribed an anti-anxiety med that cost much more than the one I was on when I was when I had no insurance, while being assured by my doctor it was really, really cheap. I wouldn't call really cheap $80.00 for a month's Rx. My boyfriend has to take Claritin and used to get it for $10.00 a month with insurance. Now that it's OTC, he can't get it filled at the pharmacy, has to buy it over the counter, which costs around 4 more times than it did with his script.

Answer 6

OTC Naproxen has 220mg of naproxen in it.  The prescription form has more naproxen than the OTC.