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In the #US, "Over the Counter" describes non-prescription drugs. Which makes no sense, since prescription drugs are the only ones sold over an actual counter. On the contrary, "Over the Counter" drugs are found in pharmacy aisles.
#US
@Brad Koehn βœ… What @Hypolite Petovan is saying is that prescription drugs are stored behind the counter whereas with non-prescription drugs you and the drugs are on the same side of the counter the whole time.

Non-prescription drugs are actually halfway-across-the-counter-to-bleep-then-back-again drugs, and prescription drugs are across-the-counter drugs.

The OTC term refers to a different time before convenience-store type pharmacies were the norm. Both classes of drugs were behind the counter. OTC drugs actually crossed the counter and could do so immediately and unencumbered as opposed to requiring extra procedures and checks, or, even further back, the pharmacist mixing it rather than getting it off the shelf.

#humorexplained
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