A medication is a licenced drug or substance taken to reduce
symptoms or cure an illness or medical condition. Medications
are generally divided into two groups -- over the counter (OTC)
medications, which are available in pharmacies and supermarkets
without special restrictions, and prescription only (POM), which
must be prescribed by a physician. Most OTC medication is
generally considered to be safe enough that most persons will
not hurt themselves accidentally by taking it as instructed.
However, the precise distinction between OTC and prescription
depends on the legal jurisdiction. Medications are typically
produced by pharmaceutical companies. Such drugs may be
patented, whereby the company demonstrates it has created a
novel compound and holds the sole rights to production or
licensing of that compound for a limited period of time (usually
20 years). Medications that are not patented are called generic
drugs. Some common medications