Prescription vs. Non-Prescription Benzoyl Peroxide

Posted by Michael on August 01, 1999 at 17:51:23
Are there any significant differences between prescription benzoyl peroxide (such as Benzac 5/Benzac 10 or Benzagel 5/10) and Benzoyl Peroxide available without a prescription, such as PersaGel, Clearasil, etc.? If there are, what are they? If there aren't, then why in the world would any dermatologist write a prescription for something that a person could just pick up him or herself at the drugstore, presumably at lower cost? (I'm assuming here that there is no dark and evil conspiracy between doctors and the pharmaceutical industry, despite the 2.3 billion pens, notepads, and coffee mugs the drug companies pass out every week.)
Thanks,
Michael

Posted by Derm M.D. ASR on August 02, 1999 at 09:53:08
Michael:
No, not much if any difference.  Some people have prescription plans, which cover medications that require prescriptions.  Though not rational, this reflects no conspiracy that I know of.
Dr R
keywords: acne, benzoyl peroxide, conspiracy, Rockoff
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