Types of Medicine
Medicines are chemicals that can help prevent, cure, ease symptoms, or diagnose
an illness. They can be prescribed by a doctor or taken over the counter (OTC).
Drugs come in many forms, including tablets starsgazette, capsules, liquids, creams, and
patches. Some medications are given directly to the skin, while others are absorbed
into the bloodstream.
Medications can be made from plants, animal products, or other substances. They
can also be chemically synthesized in a laboratory. The United States Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) approves new medicines before they can be sold.
Some medicines are made in a lab, but most are derived from natural sources such
as plants and other animals. They are called natural or herbal medicines.
They may be taken as a prescription, or they can be bought over the counter (OTC).
All OTC medicines have a label that lists the drug’s active ingredients and how to
use it.
These labels can help you choose the right medicine for your condition and avoid
side effects. They also let you know if the medicine can cause problems for someone
else.
The FDA requires that new drugs have a positive track record for safety and
effectiveness before they can be sold. The agency will take the drug through tests
and send the results to the maker, who can then withdraw it from sale if there is
evidence that it causes harmful side effects.
There are thousands of different medicines, and they can be classified in many
ways. The main classification systems are the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical
Classification System and the United States Pharmacopeia.
Drugs are used to prevent and treat disease or other health conditions, such as high
blood pressure or high cholesterol. They do not treat the underlying problem, but
they can reduce its body-damaging effects over time.
These medicines can be taken by mouth, through an infusion into a vein, or via a
suppository or injection into the arm or leg. They can also be given as a topical
treatment, such as by applying it to the skin or to the inside of the eye or nose.
They are made from chemicals and compounds, which are extracted from plants and
other organisms. Some are natural or herbal medicines, such as penicillin or
amoxicillin. Some are synthesised in a laboratory, while others are biologically
engineered by inserting genes into bacteria to make them produce the desired
substance.
Some medicines are available only by prescription, while others can be purchased
over the counter at pharmacies and other stores. Prescription medicines are usually
safer and better than OTC medicines, but they cost more.
The main types of medicines are antibiotics, antifungals, and antihistamines. They
can be used to treat infections, asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, and allergic reactions.
Another type of medicine is an antidiabetic medication, which helps control
diabetes. These medicines work by lowering the amount of sugar in the blood.
They also reduce the amount of fat that accumulates in the blood and liver. They can
also help people with glaucoma by decreasing fluid in the eye. They can also help
prevent or slow the growth of tumors and cancers.