medications

Many diseases are cured and many lives are saved because of the medications. Medications are so important to us. Why and how? What really are medications? 

In this lesson, we are going to learn about MEDICATIONS and we are going to find out:

• What are medications?
• Types and forms of medications.
• Ways of taking medications.
• Effects of medications.

What are medications?

A medication (also referred to as medicine, pharmaceutical drug, medicinal drug, or simply drug) is a drug used to diagnose, cure, treat, or prevent disease.

Medication is a substance that is taken into or placed on the body that does one of the following things:

• Cure disease or condition. For example, antibiotics are given to cure an infection.
   
• Treat a medical condition. For example, anti-depressants are given to treat depression. 
   
• Relieve symptoms of an illness. For example, pain relievers are given to reduce pain. Or antihistamines that relieve allergy symptoms such as runny nose, sneezing, and congestion.
   
• Prevent diseases, like vaccines.

 

Without the use of medications, everything would have been different today. Medications made from plants were used since ancient times. Vaccines helped a lot in reducing and eradicating a lot of deadly diseases that were present in the past. Today, we have more chances of overcoming diseases, and we now live longer thanks in part to modern drugs. Modern drugs affect our quality of life on a daily basis, such as analgetics for headaches, antibiotics for bacterial infections, medications that help reducing allergy symptoms, medications for high blood pressure, or heart diseases, also medications that replace some hormones in the body. There are a lot more examples.

The science, that deals with the study of drugs and their actions on living systems, is called pharmacology.

Medications come from a variety of sources, they can be developed from plants in nature, or made in labs from a lot of chemicals. Some are byproducts of organisms (such as fungus).

 

Types and forms of medications

Medications can be in many forms, including liquid, tablet, capsules, drops, suppositories, injections, inhalers, topical medicines, tablets that should not be swallowed (should be held in the cheek or under the tongue).

One of the key divisions is by the level of control, which distinguishes prescription drugs (those that a pharmacist dispenses only on the order of a physician, physician assistant, or qualified nurse) from over-the-counter drugs (those that consumers can order for themselves).

Classes of medicine include:

• Antipyretics: These are medications for reducing fever.
• Analgesics: These are medications used for reducing pain, and are also known as painkillers.
• Antivirals: These medications fight against viruses in the body. 
• Antihistamines: These medications can relieve allergy symptoms such as runny nose, sneezing, and congestion.
• Antimalarial drugs: These medications are used for treating malaria, and are simply called antimalarials.
• Antibiotics: Antibiotics are medications widely used in treating bacterial infections.
• Antiseptics: Antiseptics are antimicrobial substances used in the prevention of germ growth near burns, cuts, and wounds.
• Corticosteroids: These are medications that lower inflammation in the body. They also reduce immune system activity.
• Mood stabilizers: These are psychiatrist medications used in treating mood disorders.
• Hormone replacements: Medications used as hormone therapy.
• Oral contraceptives: These medications are also known as birth control pills, they are taken orally for the purpose of birth control.
• Stimulants: In this group are covered many medications, including the medications used to increase the activity of the central nervous system and body.
• Tranquilizers: These are the medications used for the treatment of anxiety, fear, disturbance of mind, agitation, to reduce anxiety and tension. 

Apart from these, there are also complementary medications (also known as 'traditional' or 'alternative' medications). These include vitamin, mineral, herbal, aromatherapy, and homeopathic products.

 

Ways of taking medications

Medications get into the body in a number of different ways, including:

• Oral, when medications are taken by mouth, in pill, capsule, or liquid form, they are swallowed and pass into the digestive system.
• Nasal, meaning into the nose.
• Buccal, placed in the cheek.
• Sublingual, placed under the tongue.
• Eye drops and ear drops are applied directly and are typically used to treat specific problems or symptoms within the eye or the ear. 
• Through the skin, or transdermal, applying to the skin either by patch or in creams or lotions.
• By injection into the fatty tissue just below the skin, like subcutaneous medications.
• By inhaling, the medications which have a direct effect on the lungs.
• Through a G tube or a J tube go directly into the stomach or intestine, like enteral medications.
• Into the rectum or the vagina, like the rectal and vaginal medications, such as suppositories, enemas, and creams.

The way the medication enters the body is called the "route". The most common "route" for medications is oral.

 

Medication Effects

Medications can have either local effects or systemic effects. 

• Local Effect

Some medications, such as eye drops are applied directly to the area that needs treatment, or in the eye. There is a very localized effect and medications do not usually enter the bloodstream in significant quantities. Same for ear-drops, they are administered in the ear, so will help to resolve health issues with the ear. One more example is when cream for allergy is applied to an insect bite on the skin. The cream stays on the surface of the skin, where the medication effect is needed.

• Systemic Effect
  
  Some medications, end up in the bloodstream and act on a specific organ or system within the body. These medications are said to have a systemic effect. For example, antibiotics taken orally are circulated through the bloodstream and work by healing the infection.

Side effects of medications

Apart from wanted positive effects, many medications have the potential for side effects. Side effects can be minor or dangerous. Perhaps the most common set of side effects for drugs that work inside the body involves the gastrointestinal system. For drugs used on the outside, skin irritation is a common complaint. Some medications can cause allergic reactions as well. Each medication has written information about possible side effects.

Always consult your doctor or healthcare specialist for medical advice if have some side effects from certain medication. 

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Note: We should always take medications as prescribed by our doctor or pharmacist, and follow their instructions.