Which types of drugs are specifically addressed by USP 800?

USP 800 specifically addresses hazardous drugs, which are defined by their potential to cause adverse effects in healthcare workers who handle them. This standard provides guidelines for the safe handling of these drugs to minimize risks to personnel, patients, and the environment. The determination of whether a drug is hazardous is based not just on its toxicity but also on factors such as the route of exposure and the potential for reproductive toxicity or carcinogenicity.

Hazardous drugs may include various categories of pharmaceuticals, such as chemotherapy agents, and it is critical that appropriate safety measures and precautions are implemented when managing these substances in any healthcare setting. This ensures compliance with safety and health regulations, aiming to protect individuals handling these medications from potential harm.

The other choices do not encompass the scope of USP 800. For instance, over-the-counter medications are generally not categorized as hazardous unless they contain specific hazardous active ingredients. Controlled substances and prescriptive medications can include both hazardous and non-hazardous drugs, so they don't specifically align with the focus of USP 800 either.