Types of Medicine
Medicines are a group of substances that are used to diagnose lifestyle.intheheadline, treat or prevent
diseases. They can be made from natural or synthetic compounds. They can be
taken by mouth, given as injections or delivered through a vein in the skin
(intravenously).
There are many different types of medicines and each type has its own set of rules
and regulations. These can include whether or not you need a prescription, how the
drug should be taken and what it should be used for.
The main types of medicine are:
Prescription Only Medicines
These are medicines that you need to be prescribed by your doctor or dentist and
can only be bought from a pharmacy or other health care provider. They usually
have a “POM” label on them and are also marked with the words “Controlled Drugs”.
Controlled drugs are those that have been specifically regulated by law. These
include antidepressants, insulin, and stronger sleeping medication.
OTC Medicines
Over-the-counter (OTC) medicines are those you can buy at pharmacies and
convenience stores without a prescription from your health care provider. These can
be used to treat common symptoms like fever, cough and colds, pain, or allergies.
The medicine is usually mixed with a liquid and given to you in a capsule, tablet or
other form that is easier to swallow. This makes the medicine easier to take and can
be taken on an empty stomach.
You can also get some over-the-counter medicines from supermarkets, convenience
stores and grocery stores as well. These can be effective in treating mild to
moderate symptoms and are available for use by all adults, including children.
Medications are often classified into different groups according to how they are
used, what type of chemicals they contain and how they are produced. This can help
people decide what treatment will work best for them.
There are several classifications, but the most important one is by the chemical type
of the active ingredient. Other classifications are based on the route of
administration, biological system affected or therapeutic effects.
Classifications are made by the United States Pharmacopeia, a non-governmental,
independent agency that is charged with ensuring drugs are safe and of high
quality.
The USP has developed a number of classification systems and they have become
widely used by healthcare professionals around the world. Some of these are
described below:
Acute conditions, such as broken bones or shingles, need a drug that can quickly
relieve the pain and swelling caused by the injury. These types of medicines are
called NSAIDs.
Chronic conditions, such as arthritis or gout, need drugs that can slow or stop the
development of inflammation. These are called disease-modifying anti-rheumatic
drugs or DMARDs.
Musculoskeletal disorders require drugs that can treat the underlying cause of the
pain and swelling, such as NSAIDs and opioids.
These drugs can help relieve pain, improve function and reduce the risk of further
damage or infection.
They can also help prevent the formation of new, severe arthritis and gout.