Final answer:
Pharmacies can directly sell over-the-counter (OTC) drugs like aspirin and ibuprofen without a prescription, as these have been approved by the FDA and are considered safe for self-medication.
Step-by-step explanation:
A pharmacy may directly sell over-the-counter (OTC) drugs such as aspirin without the need for a prescription. These are drugs and combinations approved by the FDA that do not require a doctor's supervision and are regarded as safe for self-medication. Examples of OTC drugs include ibuprofen and acetaminophen.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has a list of approximately 800 approved ingredients that are combined in various ways to create more than 100,000 OTC drug products. OTC drugs should still be used responsibly to avoid issues such as drug abuse, which refers to the use of a medication without the advice of a medical professional and for reasons not originally intended.