MEDICATION

A 'medication', 'medicines' or 'drug' is any substance or combination of substances which may be used in or administered to human beings or animals with a view to treating or preventing disease or to making a medical diagnosis. Commercial medications are produced by pharmaceutical companies and are often patented. Copies of former patented drugs are called generic drugs.

Contents

Classification

Types of medication

For infections and infestations

For nutrition

For diagnostics

For euthanasia

Legal Considerations

Other/related topics

See also

External links

Classification

Medication can be usually classified in various ways, e.g. by its chemical properties, mode of administration, or biological system affected. An elaborate and widely used classification system is the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification System(ATC system).

Types of medication

=== For the gastrointestinal tract or digestive system ===

★ Upper digestive tract: antacids, reflux suppressants, antiflatulents, antidopaminergics, proton pump inhibitors, H2-receptor antagonists, cytoprotectants, prostaglandin analogues

★ Lower digestive tract: laxatives, antispasmodics, antidiarrhoeals, bile acid sequestrants, opioids
=== For the cardiovascular system ===

★ General: beta-receptor blocker, calcium channel blockers, diuretics, cardiac glycosides, antiarrhythmics, nitrate, antianginals, vasoconstrictor, vasodilator, peripheral activator

★ Affecting Blood pressure: ACE inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, alpha blocker

★ Coagulation: anticoagulant, heparin, antiplatelet drug, fibrinolytic, anti-hemophilic factor, haemostatic drugs

★ Atherosclerosis/cholesterol agents: hypolipidaemic agents, statins.
=== For the central nervous system ===
hypnotic, anaesthetics, antipsychotic, antidepressant (including tricyclic antidepressants, monoamine oxidase inhibitor, lithium salt, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor), anti-emetic, anticonvulsant and antiepileptic, anxiolytic, barbiturate, movement disorder drug, stimulant (including amphetamines), benzodiazepine, cyclopyrrolone, dopamine antagonist, antihistamine, cholinergic, anticholinergic, emetic, cannabinoids, 5-HT antagonist
=== For pain & consciousness (analgesic drugs) ===
The main classes of painkillers are NSAIDs, opioids and various orphans such as paracetamol, tricyclic antidepressants and anticonvulsants.
=== For musculo-skeletal disorders ===
NSAIDs (including COX-2 selective inhibitors), muscle relaxant, neuromuscular drug
anticholinesterase
=== For the eye ===

★ General: adrenergic neurone blocker, astringent, ocular lubricant

★ Diagnostic: topical anesthetics, sympathomimetics, parasympatholytics, mydriatics, cycloplegics

★ Anti-bacterial: antibiotics, topical antibiotics, sulfa drugs, aminoglycosides, fluoroquinolones

★ Anti-viral:

★ Anti-fungal: imidazoles, polyenes

★ Anti-inflammatory: NSAIDs, corticosteroids

★ Anti-allergy: mast cell inhibitors

★ Anti-glaucoma: adrenergic agonists, beta-blockers, carbonic anhydrase inhibitors/hyperosmotics, cholinergics, miotics, parasympathomimetics, prostaglandin agonists/prostaglandin inhibitors. nitroglycerin
=== For the ear, nose and oropharynx ===
sympathomimetic, antihistamine, anticholinergic, NSAIDs, steroid, antiseptic, local anesthetic, antifungal, cerumenolyti
=== For the respiratory system ===
bronchodilator, NSAIDs, anti-allergic, antitussive, mucolytic, decongestant
corticosteroid, beta-receptor antagonist, anticholinergic, steroid
=== For endocrine problems ===
androgen, antiandrogen, gonadotropin, corticosteroid, growth hormone, insulin, antidiabetic (sulfonylurea, biguanide/metformin, thiazolidinedione, insulin), thyroid hormones, antithyroid drugs, calcitonin, diphosponate, vasopressin analogues
=== For the reproductive system or urinary system ===
antifungal, alkalising agent, quinolones, antibiotic, cholinergic, anticholinergic, anticholinesterase, antispasmodic, 5-alpha reductase inhibitor, selective alpha-1 blocker, sildenafil
=== For contraception ===

★ Hormonal contraception

★ Ormeloxifene

★ Spermicide
=== For obstetrics and gynecology ===
NSAIDs, anticholinergic, haemostatic drug, antifibrinolytic, Hormone Replacement Therapy, bone regulator, beta-receptor agonist, follicle stimulating hormone, luteinising hormone, LHRH
gamolenic acid, gonadotropin release inhibitor, progestogen, dopamine agonist, oestrogen, prostaglandin, gonadorelin, clomiphene, tamoxifen, Diethylstilbestrol
=== For the skin ===
emollient, anti-pruritic, antifungal, disinfectant, scabicide, pediculicide, tar products, vitamin A derivatives, vitamin D analogue, keratolytic, abrasive, systemic antibiotic, topical antibiotic, hormones, desloughing agent, exudate absorbent, fibrinolytic, proteolytic, sunscreen, antiperspirant, corticosteroid

For infections and infestations

antibiotic, antifungal, antileprotic, antituberculous drug, antimalarial, anthelmintic, amoebicide, antiviral, antiprotozoal
=== For immunology ===
vaccine, immunoglobulin, immunosuppressant, interferon, monoclonal antibody
=== For allergic disorders ===
anti-allergic, antihistamine, NSAIDs

For nutrition

tonic, iron preparation, electrolyte, parenteral nutritional supplement, vitamins, anti-obesity drug, anabolic drug, haematopoietic drug, food product drug
=== For neoplastic disorders ===
cytotoxic drug, sex hormones, aromatase inhibitor, somatostatin inhibitor, recombinant interleukins, G-CSF, erythropoietin

For diagnostics

contrast media

For euthanasia

A euthanaticum is used for euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide, see also barbiturates.
Euthanasia is not permitted by law in many countries, and consequently medicines will not be licenesed for this use in those countries.

Legal Considerations

Medications may be divided into over-the-counter drugs (OTC) which may be available without special restrictions, and prescription only medicine (POM), which must be prescribed by a licensed medical practitioner. The precise distinction between OTC and prescription depends on the legal jurisdiction.
The International Narcotics Control Board of the United Nations imposes a world law of prohibition of certain medications. They publish a lengthy list of chemicals and plants whose trade and consumption (where applicable) is forbidden. OTC medications are sold without restriction as they are considered safe enough that most people will not hurt themselves accidentally by taking it as instructed. Many countries, such as the United Kingdom have a third category of pharmacy medicines which can only be sold in registered pharmacies, by or under the supervision of a pharmacist.

Other/related topics

Polypharmacy: suggests that multiple use of prescribed and non-prescribed medications, (use of 5 or more), can have adverse effects on the recipient.
Zoopharmacognosy: Animal usage of drugs and non-foods.

See also

★ Compliance

★ Herbalism

★ Medicine

★ Nocebo

★ Pharmacology

★ Placebo

★ Medical prescription

★ Use of biotechnology in pharmaceutical manufacturing

★ Vaccine

★ List of drugs

External links

★ WHO Model List of Essential Medicines

★ Database of registered pharmaceuticals in Hong Kong

★ Consumer drug information from the FDA

★ Innovation's list of important pharmaceutical discoverers since 1987

★

★ IPHA Medicines Compendium

★ The Pharma Guide of Pakistan

★ Medicines: Do's and Don'ts

★ Medicines: What you should know about them

★ World Pharma News