Let's start with the basics. What exactly is an over-the-counter (OTC) drug?

There are hundreds of OTC drugs at your local pharmacy. Many items you may think are cosmetics, dietary supplements, or medical devices, which have their own regulatory requirements, may also be classified as "drugs."

The term "drug" is a legal one. As described in the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act:

A drug is an article intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease and/or an article (other than food) intended to affect the structure or function of the human body and/or an article intended for use as a component of such an article.

What do we mean by "intended" or "intended for use," and why is this important?