1. A pharmacist is a
who 2. studies
knows about 3. different kinds of
. 4. Pharmacists study in college andthen take a state test
a license. 5. A pharmacy is a store
sells medicine. In the United States, we often call those stores drugstores. 6. Drugstores also sell
other things, like shampoo, crackers, combs, magazines, candy, etc. The part of the drugstore that sells medicine is usually under a sign that says Pharmacy.
There are two kinds of medications in the United States. One kind of medicine is over the counter or OTC. You can just go into a drugstore and buy it. 7. However, you have to
the label carefully. 8. The label is in small print and uses a lot of vocabulary, but it has
information. 9. Most OTC medicine labels include information
indications, directions, warnings and drug interaction precautions
The other kind of medication is prescription medication. 10. If you want to buy this medicine, you need a doctor's
. 11. You take the prescription to the pharmacy. The pharmacist fills the prescription.
a 12. company
a new kind of medicine, they give it a brand name. 13. This name is different from
scientific name. The company takes out a patent. 14. When the patent ends, other
can make the same drug. 15. However, they don't
it a brand name. 16. Instead, they
the scientific name, and the drug is called a generic drug. The company has to make it safe and follow all the rules of the Food and Drug Administration. 17. Some prescription plans tell you to buy generic drugs instead of brand name drugs because generic drugs are
.
