This article is about chemical substances. For other meanings of the word "drug", see Drug (disambiguation)A drug is any substance that can be used to treat an illness, relieve a symptom, or modify a chemical process or processes in the body. The word "drug" is ethymologically derived from the Dutch/Low German word "droog", which means "dry", since in the past, most drugs were dried plant parts.
1 Terminology
The term "drug" is necessarily a vague one, being defined by intent: for example, foods consumed for normal metabolism are not generally considered "drugs", but the same foods consumed for a more specific purpose (such as the use of alcohol as a depressant or caffeine as a stimulant) may be. Depending on the definition used, the same substance may even be considered both a food and a drug at the same time. The term "medication" is frequently applied to drugs used for medical treatment, presumably to avoid conflation with recreational drugs.
2 Legal Distribution
In the United States, medical professionals may obtain drugs from pharmaceutical companies or pharmacies (which in turn purchase drugs from pharmaceutical companies). Pharmacies may also supply a drug directly to patients, authorized by a prescription from a medical professional, if the drug can be safely self-administered. Most drugs are relatively high-cost for patients to purchase directly when first distributed, although health insurance may mitigate some of the cost. When the patent for a drug runs out, a generic drug (some known as simply a "generic") is usually synthesized and released by competing companies, causing the price to drop markedly. Drugs which don't require prescription by a medical professional are known as over-the-counter (OTC) drugs and can be sold in stores without pharmacy association.
3 Classification
Drugs may be classified in many different ways, according to mechanism of action, effects, or even legal status.
- AnalgesicAn analgesic is any member of the diverse group of drugs used to relieve pain. Analgesic drugs include the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as the salicylates, narcotic drugs such as morphine, and synthetic drugs with narcotic properties (painkiller) drugs
- Non-NSAID antipyreticAntipyretics are drugs that prevent or reduce fever by lowering the body temperature from a raised state. However, they will not affect the normal body temperature if one does not have fever. Antipyretics cause the hypothalamus to override an interleukin-s
- AcetaminophenAcetaminophen ( USAN) or paracetamol ( INN), is a popular analgesic and antipyretic drug that is used for the relief of fever, headaches, and other minor aches and pains. It is a major ingredient in numerous cold and flu medications and many prescription (also known as paracetamol, or under one of its trade names Tylenol), which can cause liver problems due to chronic use
- NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) which are non-sedating (unlike opiates), but can cause internal bleeding, among other problems
- AspirinAspirin or acetylsalicylic acid is a drug in the family of salicylates, often used as an analgesic (against minor pains and aches), antipyretic (against fever), and anti- inflammatory. It has also an anticoagulant (blood thinning) effect and is used in lo or ASA (acetylsalicylic acid), which is also an antipyretic
- IbuprofenIbuprofen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug used to relieve the symptoms of arthritis, primary dysmenorrhoea, pyrexia; and as an analgesic, especially where there is an inflammatory component. Ibuprofen was developed by the research arm of Boots. (also known under the trade names Advil, Motrin, Nuprin and Brufen)
- Opioids, powerful, addictive narcotic painkillers which are also used recreationally for their euphoric effects
- Recreational drugs usually used to alter mood or body function for recreation
- Entheogenic drugs usually used to promote a mystical or shamanistic experience
- Performance-enhancing drugs (for sport or combat).
- Lifestyle drugs used to enhance quality of life by addressing typically non-serious conditions
- Psychiatric drugs (see also psychopharmacology)
