collocation · neutral
over-the-counter medication
UK/ˌəʊ.və.ðəˈkaʊn.tə ˌmɛdɪˈkeɪʃən/US/ˌoʊ.vər.ðəˈkaʊn.tər ˌmɛdɪˈkeɪʃən/o·VER·the·COUN·ter med·i·CA·tion
medicine available without a prescription
Examples
“take over-the-counter medication for a headache”
“common over-the-counter medication”
“OTC (over-the-counter) medication”
Band 8 sentence
“Patients often rely on over-the-counter medication for minor ailments, but clinicians warn about interactions with prescribed drugs.”
Collocations
- take over-the-counter medication
Word family
Common mistakes
prescription medication (when meaning OTC)→over-the-counter medication
over the counter medication→over-the-counter medication
Say it for a higher band
5pharmacy medicine→6non-prescription medicine→7+over-the-counter medication
Synonyms
OTC drug
Easily confused
prescription medication
“Unlike prescription medication, many over-the-counter medications can be bought directly at the pharmacy.”
Related words
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In Health & Fitness
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