Chair of FDA doesn't think prescriptions should be required for medicine

[Takket]

Makary: "Why are medications prescription only? If you think about it, if a medication is safe, doesn't require laboratory test monitoring & can't be used in some nefarious way, why do we require a prescription? Most of the world does not do that. There's something magical about price transparency."

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) 2026-01-18T15:12:26.412Z

We are being driven off a cliff by the dumbest people on Earth.

[lostincalifornia]

1. It is worse then dumb, they are killing people.

[milestogo]

2. Because drugs are never used in nefarious ways.

[Grins]

3. And he's an MD!!!! NM.

[dutch777]

4. More illogical and magical thinking. Sure, people will always do the right thing on their own.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

5. Let's put the Coca back in Coca-Cola. NT

[ProfessorGAC]

21. It's In There Now

Sort of.
After the psychoactive alkaloid is extracted from the leaves, a second extraction takes place to get the flavor compounds out of the leaves. (Mostly plant phenolics & esters)
Trust me on this: I worked on that process!

[Aristus]

6. Fuck.

As if I didn’t have enough trouble with patients taking over-the-counter medications they don’t need. I can’t even imagine the damage caused by people deciding for themselves to take prescription medications they don’t need and can cause harm.

[Rowdyag]

11. Yup..MRSA on steroids

What could go wrong with me getting hypertension meds or opioids 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

[Mossfern]

14. Well .....

at least I wouldn't need to be tested regularly in order to receive my opioids for chronic pain.... but then again the pharmacy would always be short of stock There are medications that I take where it would be more convenient to not need a prescription - but then again I get regular check ups. Many of my medications could be deadly for other people.

Maybe this policy should only be for MAGAts?

[dalton99a]

7. NEXT: Trump issues executive order to close all medical schools.

Dr. Google and a credit card will give you all the medicine you need

[JCMach1]

8. No issues with a whole host of safe medications

As long as pharmacy is involved.

This is actually normal in a big part of the world. Why do need to waste health resources (doctor's appointment) for your nail fungus medication?

One huge thing I hated about moving back as an expat. It annoys me so much, I still order my contact lenses from outside the US and only go to an Optometrist/Opthalmologist when i actually need to go.

[mopinko]

17. yeah, asthma inhalers is a big pet peeve of mine.

u can get an epinephrine 1 w/o an rx, but not a safer albuterol. also means seeing a doc once/yr, whether u like it, can afford it, or not.

[AllyCat]

9. Any medication can be used incorrectly.

That said, many meds can be purchased in apothecaries in other countries without a prescription. I don’t think Americans are necessarily smart enough to understand how to use these things correctly (as a group).

[Disaffected]

10. Good grief - does the idiocy have no bottom?

I can see it now - hordes of fools chugging antibiotics every time they get a sniffle and we have antibiotic resistance on steroids.

More hordes overdosing because they have no idea what a safe dose would be.

How many other issues??

[NotHardly]

12. Short Answer: No

[Disaffected]

15. And the quacks would be ecstatic.

Free access to any drugs for selling to the rubes. Advertisers would love it too:

"Ask Facebook if imutabhydroxyquinezolatronmethoflourate is right for you".

[HAB911]

13. Thin the herd

no problem at all

[Coventina]

16. Great! Give me my opiods!!!

[iemanja]

18. Sure, I'll just go in and get some oxy.

Dumbshit.

Also, many drugs have serious side effects. Doctors judge whether the treatment is necessary enough to override those effects.

[haele]

19. A prescription if nothing else is a record.

So the pharmacist at least (And other doctors if there's electronic records sharing in your region) can tell what you're taking, if there might be any damaging interactions between dosages or drugs, and what potential risks you might need to look for if you use that drug.
Not to mention reducing the risks of over procurement of "medicine" for secondary sales, overdose, or illicit purposes which can reduce the supply of medicine for legitimate purposes.

[Greg_In_SF]

20. It works well

for our neighbors to the south.

I agree with him. There is no reason I should have to pay a co-pay to visit my doctor only for him to tell me to continue taking Lisinopril for my blood pressure...just as I have done for many years.

This could easily be handled by my pharmacist and myself since I monitor my blood pressure at home.