Patent medicine

Patent medicine, or proprietary medicine, over-the-counter drugs that can be sold without prescription. Patent medicines include aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, mouthwash, antiseptics, and laxatives. The term “patent” is outdated, referring to a time when the formulas for such products were kept secret. “Proprietary” trade names of many preparations are registered, but some (like Aspirin) pass into common usage. Both patent and prescription medicine in the United States are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration.

See also: Pure food and drug laws.