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In this video, we are going to look at both POM or prescription-only-medications and controlled drugs. First, let's look at what POM medications are.
A prescription-only-medication, which we often refer to as a POM, P-O-M, is one which is prescribed medication. So prescription-only-medication is prescribed by a prescriber. Now, at one time it was only the doctor that could prescribe this medication whether it be a hospital doctor or your GP. Now, we do have nurse prescribers, we do have pharmacist prescribers and we have various other supplemental prescribers who all are allowed to sign depending on the category of training that they have for prescription-only-medications.
So now let's look at the differences between prescription-only-medications and controlled drugs.
A controlled drug is a prescription-only-medication as well. A prescription-only-medication falls into category of analgesics, antibiotics, anything for the heart, anything for your arthritis, which a doctor has to prescribe and it has be given under supervision for a diagnosed condition. A controlled drug is one which is controlled drug because of its potency and the liability that it may be abused. So there are certain categories of pain killers, opioid derivatives, which have to be classified as controlled drugs. Unfortunately, drugs can be used for their right purpose but they also can be abused and used wrongly for the wrong purposes and that's why we classify them and have legislation controlling drugs, and therefore we call them a controlled drug.
