Which term describes a drug that requires a prescription?

• A. Ethical Drug
• B. Prescription
• C. Patent Medicine
• D. Prophylaxis

Answer: (A)

Some medicines must be prescribed by a clinician before you can obtain them. In many educational contexts, that type of drug is called an ethical drug. This label highlights that a professional authorization is required to dispense the medicine, distinguishing it from drugs you can buy over the counter.

The other terms don’t fit as descriptions of how the drug is obtained. A prescription isn’t the drug itself—it’s the authorization to dispense the drug. Patent medicine is an older term for proprietary medicines marketed with claims, often available without a prescription. Prophylaxis simply means a preventive treatment, not a description of how a drug is obtained. So the best match for a drug that requires a prescription is an ethical drug.