I was just wondering why over the counter is called over the counter. "Over" would either mean "across" or "above", right? And the counter is where you go to talk to the clerk or pharmacist. Okay, what's across the counter from me are the prescription meds that the pharmacists have to get for me...and what's above the counter is nothing. Is the "over the counter" meaning "on the other side of the counter" from the pharmacist's perspective? Wouldn't it just make more sense to call the over the counter medicines nonprescription or on the shelf medications?
2007-03-20 17:25:01 · 9 answers · asked by grayhare 6 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Medicine
Way back in the day, when you went into a drug store, you told the clerk on the other side of the counter what you medicines you wanted and they would turn to their row of shelves, find you the medicine or tonic or whatever and pass it to you "over the counter" as you paid your money. This was as long as the medicine in question did not require a prescription. If it was, then the pharmacist, as opposed to the clerk, would have to fill the prescription.
Nowadays, in an era of self-service, we don't need to go to the pharmacist's counter or the clerk's counter to get OTC medicines. The phrase, however, has remained, even if the method has changed.
2007-03-20 17:37:00 · answer #1 · answered by T 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
O.K. . . . . let's see . . . .
We have a pharmacy and the prescribed by doctor drugs are kept BEHIND the counter and need a prescription. If the pharmacist is BEHIND the counter, then the shelves with the aspirine and pepto bismol are OVER the counter and you can get them yourself because you don't need a prescription.
I am not trying to be cute here . . . just trying to see if this makes any sense to anyone.
We could put this to music: Over the counter and through the woods to Grandmother's house we go . . . ." I always need aspirin when I visit my grandmother . . . .
2007-03-20 18:30:10 · answer #2 · answered by CAROL P 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
They are "over the counter" because you don't need a prescription for them but you still need to get them from a pharmacist so you don't use them for the wrong reasons.
2007-03-20 17:33:33 · answer #3 · answered by KISS Fan 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Over the counter drugs are drugs like aspirin that you don't need a prescription for. Just a term doctors use for medicine that's out on the shelves.
2007-03-20 17:32:18 · answer #4 · answered by skip1960 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Not listed or available on an officially recognized stock exchange but traded in direct negotiation between buyers and sellers: over-the-counter stocks.
That can be sold legally without a doctor's prescription: over-the-counter drugs.
2007-03-20 18:37:13 · answer #5 · answered by away right now 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
That always confuses me, too. It makes no sense. I had never thought that it might be from the pharmacist's perspective. But I agree, let's get them to switch it to prescrip. and nonprescript.!
2007-03-20 17:34:20 · answer #6 · answered by MissM 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Wayne, I went to High School within the Seventies and I had a extraordinary Agnostic instructor who refused to visit any devout comparable assemblies and requested to be allowed to present a research corridor for individuals who selected to not attend them. He was once very shiny and I discovered a nice deal from him at the moment. I felt like he had an fascinating factor of view and allowed me to impeach him and wondered me within the approach in order that I could start pondering brazenly approximately my ideals. I attended 5 one of a kind Colleges round our state and had a quantity of nice teachers who did the equal style of wondering. I located it as a substitute enlightening although I later determined to come to be a Christian. Being open-minded and pondering does now not imply that you just undertake someones perspectives. It signifies that you're open sufficient to concentrate and consider approximately what others say with out judging them for the ones ideas. I am grateful to had been uncovered to this at the moment. I additionally suppose that a character can name me slender-minded with out being so them-self. I am as a substitute slender-minded every now and then. Have a nice night time and a extraordinary week. Thanks, Eds .
2016-09-05 10:12:24 · answer #7 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It only means that you don't need a prescription to buy them.
2007-03-20 18:09:24 · answer #8 · answered by kenneth h 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
who cares??why do u worry about that too much??just call it watever you like.
2007-03-20 17:38:43 · answer #9 · answered by lancer92 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋