What Are Rx Drugs?

Rx is a shorthand for prescription. Rx drugs are simply prescription medications. Prescription medications, as opposed to over-the-counter medications, are drugs with medicinal, therapeutic value that are strictly controlled by the federal government. They may only be given to a patient through a physician's order.

FDA

• The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is the primary federal agency that handles the regulation of prescription drugs. It sets the standards by which medications are approved for human use and for what conditions.

Development

• The development of prescription drugs is principally undertaken by pharmaceutical companies. These companies pay for the research with the hope of obtaining patents and FDA approval, though universities and government agencies also engage in drug research.

Animal Testing

• According to the FDA, before a new drug can be approved for human trials it must undergo testing in a laboratory and on animals. This testing is performed to tentatively ascertain whether it will perform the job for which it is performed and be safe for human beings.

Human Trials

• The FDA also requires that, if the drug gets through animal trials, that a new set of tests be performed with human beings to evaluate the side effects and benefits. Human trials of new medications are, by law, voluntary.

Approval

• Following the animal and human trials, the data and drug information are submitted to the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. A team of specialists evaluate the information and either approve the drug for sale or deny it.