Taking drugs with Doctor's prescription

It is always advised that we take drugs only prescribed by the doctor. What's the essence of doing this?

In the US you can only get prescription drugs by prescription legally. You can get Over the Counter medicine, but it’s not as strong.

On Nov 7, 2026, DramaK said:

In the US you can only get prescription drugs by prescription legally. You can get Over the Counter medicine, but it’s not as strong.

It depends on which medication we’re talking about; I think this is fine—in fact, it’s the norm. In my country, Argentina, it’s the same: for instance, low-potency medications—like pills for headaches, the flu, or similar issues—can be bought anywhere or at a pharmacy without a prescription. However, if you need to purchase high-potency medications—such as those for epilepsy or other similar conditions—a doctor’s prescription is absolutely required, which I find perfectly normal.