What are over-the-counter medicines?
Over-the-counter medicines are available without a doctor's prescription (i.e. without a prescription) in pharmacies and some are also available in drugstores and supermarkets. They are intended for a wide variety of mostly minor complaints, such as pain, fever or colds, which patients can take on their own responsibility and without a doctor's prescription or diagnosis. "However, no medicine is completely without risk and the independent treatment of symptoms or illnesses with over-the-counter medicines requires a particularly high degree of caution," says Günter Waxenecker, Head of Business Unit at AGES Medizinmarktaufsicht.
"Incorrect or careless use or inaccurate dosing can lead to a wide variety of side effects, interactions with other medicines or foods or even addiction," says internist Johannes Pleiner-Duxneuner, Managing Director of AGES. Therefore, as with any other medication, it is important to read the package leaflet carefully and follow the instructions described in detail. If you have any questions, seek professional advice from your doctor or pharmacist.
Information for safe use
As the use of over-the-counter medicines crosses borders, European countries have joined forces in the "Medicines are not sweets" campaign. They remind people of the most important steps that are necessary for the safe use of these medicines: Carefully reading the instructions for use, observing the correct dosage, adhering to the recommended maximum duration of use and, if there is no improvement, always consulting a doctor quickly.
The awareness campaign "Medicines are not sweets" is the first joint campaign of the Heads of Medicines Agencies (HMA), the network of national medicines agencies in Europe responsible for the regulation and monitoring of medicines. The HMA co-operates closely with the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the European Commission (EC) to ensure the safety, quality and efficacy of medicinal products in Austria and Europe.
All information in the electronic "package leaflet"
In the Register of Medicinal Products of the Federal Office for Safety in Health Care (BASG) you will find all package leaflets for medicinal products authorised in Austria.
