Pharmacists Guide Patients as Prescription Drugs Move Over the Counter

Some of the most prominent over-the-counter (OTC) drugs and their effects are common amongst the general public, from products like Tylenol and Advil to more recently approved drugs for OTC use like nalaxone and norgestrel (Opill). Whether patients are aware of these drugs or not, these products all have experienced the FDA’s Rx-to-OTC transition process, which ensures that drugs made for OTC use are safe and appropriate for front-end sale at various retail businesses.

As this opens the door for more equitable access to necessary medications, pharmacists are encouraged to educate themselves and their patients for the best possible community outcomes as more drugs go from prescription-only to OTC.

“Pharmacist roles have really evolved from primarily being dispensers of medications to really acting as clinical advisors and decision guides,” Alyssa Billingsley, PharmD, senior director of pharmacy content at GoodRx, told Drug Topics. “As more medications have moved OTC, pharmacists are often the first point of contact when people are trying to decide whether a product is right for them. So in many ways, pharmacists have been absolutely critical in making these transitions work in practice.”

From pharmacists’ everyday patients to those seeking self-care journeys themselves, the pharmacist’s expertise is becoming more and more valuable within pharmacy practices and health care as a whole.

In this week’s episode of Over the Counter, Billingsley shared her insights on the general processes behind Rx-to-OTC transitions and just how she’s seen the pharmacy profession evolve amid recent switches. From amendments to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act in 1951 all the way to the first oral contraceptive available without a prescription, explore how the Rx-to-OTC process has changed the game for pharmacies, pharmacists, and patients alike.¹

Stay tuned for weekly podcast episodes of Over the Counter powered by Drug Topics. Check out our most recent episode withChad Worz, PharmD, BCGP, FASCP, and James Lewis fromthe American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP). The duo joined Over the Counter to discuss 2026 updates to the Inflation Reduction Act and what pharmacies should be on the lookout for throughout the rest of this year and beyond.

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REFERENCE

Saleh N. From Rx-to-OTC: 13 drugs that made the switch in the past decade. MDLinx. January 9, 2020. Accessed January 27, 2026. https://www.mdlinx.com/article/from-rx-to-otc-13-drugs-that-made-the-switch-in-the-past-decade/5ZAzuyvaSt4DJ5RMMt2nkU