Thu, 30 Apr 2026 16:57:31 +0000

Do You Really Need a Prescription? Over-the-Counter Antibiotics Are Back—and the World Is Watching In recent years, a surprising shift has captured global attention: over-the-counter (OTC) antibiotics are making a bold comeback. Once tightly regulated and only available via prescription, certain antibiotics are now becoming more accessible to consumers—driven by urgent medical demands, antibiotic resistance concerns, and evolving healthcare policies. But is this trend safe, practical, and really necessary? As antibiotic resistance escalates into a global health crisis, researchers, clinicians, and policymakers are re-evaluating age-old rules around antibiotic use. Could giving patients access to first-line antibiotics without a doctor’s visit help treat infections faster while avoiding unnecessary hospital visits? Or does widespread OTC access risk misuse and accelerate resistance? ### The Rising Push for OTC Antibiotics