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> No doctor actually writes a script for it; they just say "hey try this for your pain." Author here. I don't mind criticisms of my essay, but that is factual

> No doctor actually writes a script for it; they just say "hey try this for your pain." Author here. I don't mind criticisms of my essay, but that is factually incorrect. Doctors do in fact write prescription for over the counter ibuprofen in the United States and often do so as a remedial solution to various ailments, which may or may not benefit from pain relief.

bobthebuilders 4y ago
Do you have any evidence for this? As an American who's been to many doctors, this just seems wrong.
ivraatiems 4y ago
I'm not saying it doesn't happen but it's not standard practice to write a prescription for an OTC med unless there's a reason (you need a higher dose, you can get it cheaper via insurance if it's prescribed, etc.). In fact, the practice is uncommon enough some physicians have found the "loophole" situations I mentioned above too burdensome: https://amednews.com/article/20120507/government/305079963/1/ https://amednews.com/article/20120507/government/305079963/1...
- NoPie 4y ago
  You went from "no doctor" to "not common". It is in the UK in many cases. The reason might be 1) need a higher dose than allowed to sell OTC, 2) get it without paying, especially for elderly, but this practice is frown upon, 3) simply to streamline pharmaceutical care and include all needed medicines on one prescription, again, this is more common for elderly on several medicines. We are not talking about ibuprofen here because that's actually bad for stomach and heart. Most common in the UK would be paracetamol. But many other OTC medicines are being routinely prescribed (painkillers like codeine). I was prescribed ear drops that the pharmacist advised me to buy OTC because that would be cheaper than pay the prescription fee. I guess that for many patients going to the doctor and getting a prescription for something is part of their expectations that they would not be happy to return without anything. But of course, the practice among countries may be very different that we cannot talk about one single culture. I think of author's article more like an allegory.
supercheetah 4y ago
Every time a doctor has "written me a prescription" for an OTC, it's always been just a note to me to actually get it. They never bother to send it to the pharmacist, and I end up being just another nameless person to the pharmacist buying another pack of Tylenol.
- jjeaff 4y ago
  To be fair, the quoted piece doesn't say "write a prescription for ibuprofen". It says doctors "prescribe ibuprofen". The former implies an actual written prescription you might give to a pharmacist, the latter is more ambiguous and can mean that the doctor told you to take ibuprofen. As in: "For my cold, the doctor prescribed plenty of rest and fluids".
anondr 4y ago
Prescriptions are occasionally written for OTC meds so that they can be covered by medicaid, FSAs, etc. Also, NSAIDs are not just for pain control. They are also anti-inflammatory (e.g. used for pericarditis) and can be used in more obscure circumstances such as closing a PDA in an infant.

bobthebuilders 4y ago

Do you have any evidence for this? As an American who's been to many doctors, this just seems wrong.

ivraatiems 4y ago

I'm not saying it doesn't happen but it's not standard practice to write a prescription for an OTC med unless there's a reason (you need a higher dose, you can get it cheaper via insurance if it's prescribed, etc.). In fact, the practice is uncommon enough some physicians have found the "loophole" situations I mentioned above too burdensome: https://amednews.com/article/20120507/government/305079963/1/ https://amednews.com/article/20120507/government/305079963/1...

NoPie 4y ago
You went from "no doctor" to "not common". It is in the UK in many cases. The reason might be 1) need a higher dose than allowed to sell OTC, 2) get it without paying, especially for elderly, but this practice is frown upon, 3) simply to streamline pharmaceutical care and include all needed medicines on one prescription, again, this is more common for elderly on several medicines. We are not talking about ibuprofen here because that's actually bad for stomach and heart. Most common in the UK would be paracetamol. But many other OTC medicines are being routinely prescribed (painkillers like codeine). I was prescribed ear drops that the pharmacist advised me to buy OTC because that would be cheaper than pay the prescription fee. I guess that for many patients going to the doctor and getting a prescription for something is part of their expectations that they would not be happy to return without anything. But of course, the practice among countries may be very different that we cannot talk about one single culture. I think of author's article more like an allegory.

supercheetah 4y ago

Every time a doctor has "written me a prescription" for an OTC, it's always been just a note to me to actually get it. They never bother to send it to the pharmacist, and I end up being just another nameless person to the pharmacist buying another pack of Tylenol.

jjeaff 4y ago
To be fair, the quoted piece doesn't say "write a prescription for ibuprofen". It says doctors "prescribe ibuprofen". The former implies an actual written prescription you might give to a pharmacist, the latter is more ambiguous and can mean that the doctor told you to take ibuprofen. As in: "For my cold, the doctor prescribed plenty of rest and fluids".

anondr 4y ago

Prescriptions are occasionally written for OTC meds so that they can be covered by medicaid, FSAs, etc. Also, NSAIDs are not just for pain control. They are also anti-inflammatory (e.g. used for pericarditis) and can be used in more obscure circumstances such as closing a PDA in an infant.