Over The Counter Drugs/Medicines (OTC Drugs)

Over-the-Counter Drugs/Medicines (OTC Drugs):  It means the medicines/drugs which can be dispensed from a pharmacy by a pharmacist without a valid prescription.

Prescription-only Drugs/Medicines: (PO Drugs): It means the medicines/drugs which are dispensed from a pharmacy by a pharmacist against a valid prescription.

The Valid Prescription means the prescrption medicines are prescribed by a practicing registered physician and/or dentist. In Bangladesh, the registered physicians are registered in the Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council (BMDC) (it is an autonomous government regulatory body for the physicians and dentists). The valid prescribers in Bangladesh are usually holders of degrees like MBBS, FCPS, MCPS, MD, MS, DOpth, DO, DCard, DDV, DTCD, DGO, BDS, Medical Assistant Training Course degrees etc.

The Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA) has authorized thirty nine (39) medicines/drugs as the Over-the-Counter (OTC) medicnes/drugs meant for dispensing medicines/drugs without a prescription.

The list of the DGDA authorized OTC medicines are as below:

ব্যবস্থাপত্রহীন ওষুধের তালিকা (এলোপ্যাথিক)
List of Over-the-Counter (OTC) Drugs (Allopathic)

1) Albendazole Chewable Tablet
2) Antacid Chewable Tablet/ Suspension
3) Ascorbic Acid Chewable Tablet/ Syrup
4) Benzyl Benzoate Lotion
5) Calcium Tablet
6) Chloramphenicol Eye/Ear Ointment/Drops
7) Chlorhexidine Lotion/ Cream
8) Chloroxylenol Lotion/ Cream
9) Chlorpheniramine Maleate Tablet/ Syrup
10) Condoms
11) Diclofenac Gel
12) Dextromethorphen Syrup
13) Ferrous (Sulphate, Gluconate & Fumarate) Tablet/ Capsule/ Syrup
14) Gentian Violet
15) Glycerin Suppository
16) Low Dose Contraceptive Pills
17) Mebendazole Tablet
18) Metronidazole Tablet/ Suspension
19) Methyl Salicylate Gel
20) Milk of Magnesia Suspension
21) Mouthwash Preparations
22) Multivitamin Tablet/ Capsule/ Drops
23) Neomycin/ Gentamycin/ Bacitracin or combination Ointment/ Cream/ Dusting Powder
24) Omeprazole capsule
25) Oral Rehydration Salt (ORS) (with or without glucose or flavours) Sachets
26) Paracetamol /Acetaminophen Tablet/ Syrup/ Suspension/Suppository
27) Permethrin Ointment/ Cream
28) Potassium Permenganate Granules for Gargle
29) Povidone Iodine
30) Promethazine Theoclate Tablet
31) Ranitidin Tablet
32) Riboflavine tablet
33) Salbutamol Tablet
34) Salicylic Acid+ Benzoic Acid Ointment
35) Silver Sulphadiazine Ointment
36) Sunscreen Preparations
37) Vitamin A Capsule
38) Vitamin B Complex (individual or combinations) Tablet/ Syrup/ Drops
39) Xylometazoline 0 0 1 % Nasal Drops