drug noun

(Concise Encyclopedia)

Any chemical agent that affects the function of living things. Some, including antibiotics, stimulants, tranquilizers, antidepressants, analgesics, narcotics, and hormones, have generalized effects. Others, including laxatives, heart stimulants, anticoagulants, diuretics, and antihistamines, act on specific systems. Vaccines are sometimes considered drugs. Drugs may protect against attac ing organisms !by illing them, stopping them from reproducing, or bloc ing their effects on the host", substitute for a missing or defective substance in the body, or interrupt an abnormal process. A drug must bind #ith receptors in or on cells and cannot #or if the receptors are absent or its configuration does not fit theirs. Drugs may be given by mouth, by in$ection, by inhalation, rectally, or through the s in. %he oldest existing catalogue of drugs is a stone tablet from ancient &abylonia !c. '()) &*"+ the modern drug era began #hen antibiotics #ere discovered in ',-.. Synthetic versions of natural drugs led to design of drugs based on chemical structure. Drugs must be not only effective but safe+ side effects can range from minor to dangerous !see drug poisoning". /any illegal drugs also have medical uses !see cocaine+ heroin+ drug addiction". See also drug resistance+ pharmacology+ pharmacy.
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antibiotic
*hemical substance that in dilute solutions can inhibit the gro#th of microorganisms or destroy them #ith little or no harm to the infected host. 0arly antibiotics #ere natural microbial products, but chemists have modified the structures of many to produce semisynthetic and even #holly synthetic ones. Since the discovery of penicillin !',-.", antibiotics have revolutionized the treatment of bacterial, fungal, and some other diseases. %hey are produced by many actinomycetes !e.g., streptomycin, tetracycline" and other bacteria !e.g., polypeptides such as bacitracin" and by fungi !e.g., penicillin". Antibiotics may be broad1spectrum !active against a #ide range of pathogens" or specific !active against one, or one class". Dra#bac s include activity against beneficial

microorganisms, often causing diarrhea+ allergies+ and development of drug1resistant strains of the targeted microorganisms.

penicillin
Antibiotic derived from the Penicillium mold. 2t #as discovered in ',-. by Alexander 3leming+ by ',4), 5o#ard 6alter 3lorey, 0rnst &oris *hain, and others had produced
commercial quantities that proved vital to the treatment of #ar casualties, ma ing penicillin the first successful antibiotic for human bacterial infections. /any natural and semisynthetic !ampicillin, amoxicillin" variants have since been produced. All #or by inhibiting the enzymes responsible for bacterial cell #all synthesis !and therefore do not #or against microorganisms #ithout cell #alls or #ith certain variant cell #alls+ e.g., the tuberculosis bacillus". Among the bacteria susceptible to penicillin are those causing strep throat, spinal meningitis, gas gangrene, and syphilis. Overuse has led to drug resistance in some strains. 7enicillin8s chief side effect is allergy, #hich can be life1threatening.

heroin
5eterocyclic compound, a highly addictive al aloid derivative of morphine !chemically, it is diacetylmorphine" that ma es up a large portion of illicit narcotics traffic. 0asily made from morphine, it #as developed and first used as an analgesic, but
its undesirable effects out#eighed its value, and it is illegal in most countries. 2n$ection brings an ecstatic, #arm, glo#ing sensation, follo#ed by relaxation and contentment. 6ithin half a day #ithdra#al symptoms set in, #ith a craving for more. Development of tolerance, requiring ever greater amounts for the same effects, leads to drug addiction. 2llegal street heroin is usually only -9:; pure+ un#itting in$ection of relatively pure heroin is a ma$or cause of overdose, resulting in depressed respiration, coma, and death.

cocaine
5eterocyclic compound !*5<O", an al aloid obtained from coca leaves. 2t has legal uses in medicine and dentistry as a local anesthetic but far more is used illegally, usually as the
hydrochloride. 6hen sniffed in small amounts, cocaine

produces feelings of #ell1being and euphoria, decreased appetite, relief from fatigue, and increased mental alertness. =arger amounts or prolonged use can damage the heart and nasal structures and cause seizures. 2n altered, more potent, cheaper forms !freebase, crac ", cocaine is in$ected or smo ed and is extremely addictive !see drug addiction" and detrimental to health. 7rolonged or compulsive use of any form of purified cocaine can cause severe personality disturbances, inability to sleep, appetite loss, and paranoid psychosis. A drug is a substance which may have medicinal, intoxicating, performance enhancing or other effects when taken or put into a human body or the body of another animal and is not considered a food or exclusively a food. What is considered a drug rather than a food varies between cultures, and distinctions between drugs and foods and between kinds of drug are enshrined in laws which vary between jurisdictions and aim to restrict or prevent drug use. Even within a jurisdiction, however, the status of a substance may be uncertain or contested with respect to both whether it is a drug and how it should be classified if at all. There is no single, precise definition, as there are different meanings in drug control law, government regulations, medicine, and colloquial usage.[3] In pharmacology, a drug is "a chemical substance used in the treatment, cure, prevention, or diagnosis of disease or used to otherwise enhance physical or mental well-being."[3] Drugs may be prescribed for a limited duration, or on a regular basis for chronic disorders.[4] Recreational drugs are chemical substances that affect the central nervous system, such as opioids or hallucinogens.[4] They may be used for perceived beneficial effects on perception, consciousness, personality, and behavior.[4][5] Some drugs can cause addiction and/or habituation.[5] Drugs are usually distinguished from endogenous biochemicals by being introduced from outside the organism.[citation needed] For example, insulin is a hormone that is synthesized in the body; it is called a hormone when it is synthesized by the pancreas inside the body, but if it is introduced into the body from outside, it is called a drug.[citation needed] Many natural substances, such as beers, wines, and psychoactive mushrooms, blur the line between food and recreational drugs, as when ingested they affect the functioning of both mind and body and some substances normally considered drugs such as DMT

(Dimethyltryptamine) are actually produced by the human body in trace amounts.

Medication
A medication or medicine is a drug taken to cure and/or ameliorate any symptoms of an illness or medical condition, or may be used as preventive medicine that has future benefits but does not treat any existing or pre-existing diseases or symptoms. Dispensing of medication is often regulated by governments into three categoriesover-the-counter (OTC) medications, which are available in pharmacies and supermarkets without special restrictions, behind-thecounter (BTC), which are dispensed by a pharmacist without needing a doctor's prescription, and prescription only medicines (POM), which must be prescribed by a licensed medical professional, usually a physician. In the United Kingdom, BTC medicines are called pharmacy medicines which can only be sold in registered pharmacies, by or under the supervision of a pharmacist. These medications are designated by the letter P on the label.[8] The range of medicines available without a prescription varies from country to country. Medications are typically produced by pharmaceutical companies and are often patented to give the developer exclusive rights to produce them. Those that are not patented (or with expired patents) are called generic drugs since they can be produced by other companies without restrictions or licenses from the patent holder.

Recreational drug use

Recreational drugs use is the use of psychoactive substances to have fun, for the experience, or to enhance an already positive experience. National laws prohibit the use of many different recreational drugs and medicinal drugs that have the potential for recreational use are heavily regulated. Many other recreational drugs on the other hand are legal, widely culturally accepted, and at the most have an age restriction on using and/or purchasing them. These include alcohol, tobacco, betel nut, and caffeine products in the west, and in other localised areas of the world drugs such as Khat are common. Because of the legal status of many drugs, recreational drug use is controversial, with many governments not recognising spiritual or other perceived uses for drugs and classing them under illegal recreational use.

Difference Between Drug and Medicine The terms drug and medicine are often mistakenly used as two similar terms. However in the strictest sense the two have different meanings or definitions and they can serve different purposes. !t is "ust the government or the law that dictates that these two have a thin line of separation. !t is not the dictionary that gives their distinct definitions but the terms of its legality and social perception. #s defined by law medicines have fairly negligible to$icities while drugs are habit%forming substances that may lead to some serious adverse effects even though it is still initially used to cure diseases. The term drug nowadays is linked more to specific kinds of medications including& stimulants hallucinogens and narcotics. 'ith this it is safe to say that drugs are those substances that have some form of stimulating effect and have the potential for addiction when used in an abusive way. (ome of these drugs are very easy to administer like adding them to your regular drink. )sing these kinds of substances is also therapeutic to some e$tent. Drug is taken from the *rench term drogue. !t is a substance that can induce what+s called a form of stupefaction because it stupefies one+s line of thought and state of mental well%being. This is the reason why those taking drugs in an uncontrolled manner are called drug addicts. They take in these substances regularly. # person who sells illegally addictive drugs is known as a drug peddler. ,n the other hand medicine is recogni-ed as any preparation that is meant for treating or preventing illnesses. !n the past this term is limited only to the preparations administered orally. .owadays it has taken on a broader scope. !n another sense medicine is a field of study that is concerned about the clinical assessment making medical diagnoses treating diseases as well as preventing the occurrence of such. /rofessionals who+ve graduated in the field of medicine and who+ve officially passed the medical board e$am are called M.D.+s 0medical doctor1 or physician. This person is an e$pert in prescribing and administering the right kind of medications to the ailing patient. 2ontrary to drugs medicine in general is something that won+t lead to addiction. Thus it doesn+t stupefy the mind. The term is actually of 3atin origin medicina. (ummary&4.Drugs can stupefy the mind unlike medicines.5.Drugs have a potential of addiction while medicines 0in the general sense1 don+t lead to such.6.The term drugs 0either for therapeutic or non%therapeutic purposes1 is nowadays thought to have a more negative connotation.7.Drugs are substances that can still cure diseases to some e$tent but can have severe adverse effects if used more than what+s necessary.8.Medicine can be a field of study whose graduates are called physicians or M.D.+s.

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Why do medications have brand names and generic names?

Many medications have two names because more than one version of the medicine may be available. The brand name is the name given to a medicine by the pharmaceutical company that makes it. This is also called the proprietary name. The generic name or scientific name is the name for the active ingredient in the medicine that is decided by an expert committee and is understood internationally. This is also called the non-proprietary name. For example, sildenafil is the generic name of a medicine used to treat erectile dysfunction (the inability to get an erection . !fi"er, the company that makes sildenafil, sells it under the brand name #iagra.

Brand names for medications

!harmaceutical companies take out a patent (exclusive rights for each new medicine they discover. This patent lasts for up to $% years, during which time the medicine is studied in clinical trials and then approved for sale by expert committees, such as the Medicines and &ealthcare products 'egulatory (gency (M&'( . )hen the medicine becomes available, only the pharmaceutical company that discovered it is able to sell it using their brand name, until the patent runs out.

Generic names for medications

(fter the patent runs out, other companies can produce their own version of the medicine. For example, ibuprofen is the generic name of a medicine used to treat pain. *ome companies will sell ibuprofen as branded versions, such as +urofen and &edex. ,ther manufacturers, such as -oots or Tesco, sell it under the generic name .ibuprofen/. Medicines sold under their generic name are usually cheaper because the research and development costs are lower. &owever, they contain the same active ingredient as the e0uivalent branded medicines. 1eneric medicines also go through detailed safety and 0uality re0uirements. *ee the &ealth (-2 for more information about how medicines are licensed and safety and regulation.

Being prescribed generic medications

3ou may be prescribed a generic medicine instead of a branded medicine because4 generic medicines are as effective as branded versions generic medicines can cost up to 5%6 less than branded versions !rescribing generic medicines frees up +&* funds for use elsewhere.

Generic medicines that are different

7n some rare cases, branded medicines are prescribed because they are the most suitable product. 7f this applies to you, it/s important to stay on the branded medicine, rather than changing to a generic medicine. 3our 1! will let you know if this is the case. For example, the body absorbs some medicines used to treat epilepsy in slightly different ways. This has a big effect on how the medicine works. 7n these cases, you should continue to use the brand you/ve been prescribed.

)hy the same medicines can have different names

The names of medicines can often be confusing, as the same medicine can sometimes be called different things. Many medicines have two names4 the brand name given to a medicine by the pharmaceutical company it is developed by the scientific or generic name for the active ingredient of the medicine that is decided by an expert committee For example, sildenafil is the generic name of a medicine used to treat erectile dysfunction. &owever, the company that makes sildenafil, !fi"er, sells it under the brand name #iagra. -oth medicines have the same clinical effect, but each separate manufacturer can give it a different name. 7t is similar to buying branded goods or a supermarket/s own label8 both products do the same 9ob but the supermarket/s own version is usually cheaper.

Brand names
:uring the first few years a new medicine becomes available, it is usually marketed as a brand, under a name given by the pharmaceutical company that developed it. ;ompanies take out patents (exclusive rights on each new drug they

discover to ensure they regain the money they spend on its development < which can be as much as => billion < and make a profit. &aving a patent means only that company can produce the medicine for a certain length of time. 7n the ?@, the standard patent lasts $% years, although this can sometimes be extended by up to another five years. ,n average, it takes the first >%->A years of this period to develop the medicine and obtain a licence (read more about licensing medicines . The company has the remaining years during which only they can produce and sell the medicine to recover their costs and make a profit. They give the medicine a brand name for marketing purposes to make it more memorable, such as #iagra.

Generic names
,nce the patent protection expires, other companies can produce their own version of the medicine. For example, ibuprofen is the generic name of a medicine commonly used to treat pain and inflammation. There are many branded versions of ibuprofen, such as +urofen and &edex. &owever, it is also sold under the generic name .ibuprofen/ but made by different manufacturers, such as -oots or Tesco. 1eneric medicines are usually cheaper because there are fewer research and development costs, but they contain the same active ingredient as the branded products. 1eneric medicines go through the same detailed safety and 0uality re0uirements as the original branded product. 'ead more about regulating the safety of medicines.

Prescribing generic medicines

!rescribers (people who prescribe medicines, such as 1!s are encouraged to prescribe medicines by their generic name. This is because generic medicines are usually as effective as the branded versions, but can cost up to 5%6 less. This frees up +&* resources to pay for other treatments. 7t also gives the pharmacist the widest choice of products to dispense. This can be important, particularly if there is a shortage of a particular product.

Switching to a generic medicine

7f your prescriber changes your regular prescription from a branded medicine to a generic version, they should tell you about the change before you collect your prescription. This is to ensure you understand that although your medicine may have a different name, it will still contain the same active ingredient. 3our pharmacist can also be a helpful source of information and advice when this happens. )hen you pick up your prescription, the medicine may look different and there will be a different name on the label. &owever, it will contain the same active ingredient as the medicine you used before.

Generic medicines with different activity

7n rare cases, it is important for a patient to stay on the branded medicine previously prescribed for them, rather than changing to a generic medicine. 7n such cases, the branded medicine is the most suitable product. *ome examples of when you should keep taking your brand of prescribed medicine include4 pilepsy medicines < these should be treated with care because different versions may have slight differences in the way they are absorbed, which can cause big differences in their effect8 for example, prescribers may decide that the branded version of lamotrigine (Bamictal is more suitable than the generic version. !odified"release preparations of medicines < such as modified release versions of theophylline, nifedipine, diltia"em and verapamil8 a branded version may sometimes be a better option than the generic e0uivalent as they can be absorbed differently. #iclosporin < a medicine that suppresses the immune system (the body/s natural defence system 8 different branded versions may cause different levels of ciclosporin in your blood. !esala$ine % which is used to treat ulcerative colitis (a long-term condition that affects the colon 8 the way that mesala"ine is absorbed varies between different brands. &ithium % this treats a number of mental health conditions' different brands vary widely in terms of how much of the medicine is absorbed and becomes active. Beclometasone dipropionate #(#"free inhalers to treat asthma < there are two inhalers that contain the same active substance (beclometasone dipropionate , but one is much stronger. )ny product where the generic name could cause confusion, such as hormone replacement therapy (&'T and insulins (used to treat diabetes .
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1eneric vs -rand +ame Medicines

Cvery medicine (drug has an approved generic name. ,ften, it will also have one or more brand (trade

names. This can sometimes lead to confusion.

)hat are generic and brand namesD

Generic name. Cach medicine (drug has an approved name called the generic name. ( group of medicines that have similar actions often have similar-sounding generic names. For example, penicillin, ampicillin, amoxicillin and flucloxacillin are in one group of antibiotics. Brand name. Many medicines also have one or more brand names. This is chosen by the company that makes it. *everal companies may make the same generic medicine, each with their own brand name. The name is often chosen to be memorable for advertising, or to be easier to say or spell than some long generic nameE For example, paracetamol is a generic name. There are several companies that make this with brand names such as !anadolF, ;alpolF, etc The brand name is usually written most clearly on any packaging. &owever, you will always see the generic name written somewhere on the packet (often in small print . *ome medicines only have the generic name on the packet.The colour, si"e, shape, etc, of brands of the same medicine may vary depending on which company makes it. :o not be alarmed if your regular medicine seems to have changed colour or shape. 7t may be that the pharmacist is getting it from a different company, or the doctor has written the prescription in a generic way rather than using a brand name. &owever, the medicine will be the same if the generic name is the same as before.

;ombination products
*ome tablets or pills contain a combination of medicines. ;ombination products are often marketed and sold with a brand name. &owever, the individual ingredients (the individual medicines that are combined into the one tablet or pill will all be listed in small print on the packet. For example, a popular painkiller has a brand name of *olpadeineF. This contains three generic medicines - paracetamol, codeine, and caffeine.
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What are brand name and generic drugs? A brand name drug is a medicine thats dis- co ered! de e"oped and mar#eted by a pharmaceutica" company. $nce a new drug is disco ered! the company %i"es %or a patent to protect against other companies ma#ing copies and se""ing the drug. At this point the drug has two names: a generic name thats the drugs common scienti%ic name and a brand name to ma#e it stand out in the mar#et- p"ace. &his is true o% prescription drugs as we"" as o er-thecounter drugs. An e'am- p"e is the pain re"ie er &y"eno"(. &he brand name is &y"eno"( and the generic name is acetaminophen. )eneric drugs ha e the same acti e ingredients as brand name drugs a"ready appro ed by the *ood and +rug Administration ,*+A-. )enerics on"y become a ai"ab"e a%ter the patent e'pires on a brand name drug. .atent periods may "ast up to 20 years on some drugs. &he same company that ma#es the brand name drug may a"so produce the generic ersion. $r! a di%%erent company might produce it. 3 Whats the difference between brand name and generic drugs? /ts important to remember that there are brand name and generic ersions o% medi- cines not on"y %or mood disorders but %or other conditions as we""0high b"ood pressure! diabetes! etc. &oday! about 10 The Similarities According to the *+A! to substitute a generic %or a brand name drug: /t must contain the same acti e ingredients ,the chemica" substance that ma#es the drug wor#-. /t must ha e the same dosage strength ,the amount o% acti e ingredients! %or e'amp"e 20 mg or 20 mg-. /t must be the same dosage %orm ,that is! it needs to be a ai"ab"e in the same %orm as the origina"0%or e'amp"e! as a "i3uid! pi""! etc.-. /t must ha e the same route o% admin- istration ,the way the medication is introduced into the body-. /t must de"i er simi"ar amounts o% the drug to the b"oodstream ,that is! it needs to de"i er a comparab"e amount o% the drug into the b"ood- stream within a simi"ar time period as the brand name drug-. percent o% a"" prescriptions are %i""ed with generic drugs. &he *+A has estab"ished standards %or generic drugs that might seem comp"icated but are rea""y 3uite simp"e. The Differences 4eres how generics and brand name drugs di%%er: 5 &hey "oo# di%%erent. ,*edera" "aw re3uires this.-

 &hey cou"d ha e di%%erent si6es! shapes! co"ors or mar#ings. &hey ha e di%%erent names. 5 &hey might ha e di%%erent inacti e ingredients. +rugs are made up o% both acti e and inacti e ingredients. Some peo- p"e may be sensiti e to inacti e ingre- dients. *or e'amp"e! some peop"e ha e reactions to certain dyes used in some drugs. 5 &he generic costs "ess than the brand name drug. &he cash price and insurance co-pay is usua""y "ower. )enerics can cost between 20 and 70 percent "ess! but #eep in mind that cost is on"y one %actor when considering the right medication %or your condition. 5 )enerics ary by manu%acturer! which means you cou"d recei e di%%erent er- sions based on where you purchase your medications and what type o% generic they dispense. +i%%erent pharmacies carry di%%erent generics. 8 en the same pharmacy may change generic supp"iers

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