Over the counter medicines and pharmacy products

Although not that many medicines have been proven unsafe for use during pregnancy, few have been proven safe, so caution is advised. Make sure that your doctor and pharmacist know that you are pregnant before prescribing or recommending drugs for use and never buy over-the-counter medicines, herbal preparations or homeopathic treatments without checking that they are safe for pregnant women. Find out more...

In general, the term covers a good that is administered for a therapeutic purpose. There are two different legislative terms, one in the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 [Australia] and one in the Medicines Act 1981 [New Zealand].

Substances that, when taken internally or applied to the body, help prevent or cure a disease or other medical problem.