Definition and Usage of Medication
- Medication is a medicine or chemical compound used to treat or cure illness.
- Dosage forms of medication can include tablets, capsules, liquids, creams, and patches.
- Medications can be given in different ways, such as by mouth, infusion into a vein, or drops in the ear or eye.
- A placebo is a medication used in research studies that does not contain an active ingredient.
- In Europe, medication is referred to as a medicinal product and is defined by EU law.
- Among elderly Americans surveyed, 84% took at least one prescription drug.
- 44% took at least one over-the-counter (OTC) drug.
- 52% took at least one dietary supplement.
- In a different survey, the percentages were 88%, 38%, and 64% for prescription drugs, OTC drugs, and dietary supplements, respectively.
Classification of Medication
- Medications can be classified into traditional small molecule drugs derived from chemical synthesis.
- Biological medical products include recombinant proteins, vaccines, blood products, gene therapy, and cell therapy.
- Pharmaceutical drugs are classified into various groups based on their origin and mode of action.
- The Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification System is widely used for classification.
- The World Health Organization maintains a list of essential medicines.
Drug Discovery and Development
- Drug discovery and development are complex and expensive endeavors.
- They involve pharmaceutical companies, academic scientists, and governments.
- Partnering has become a standard practice to advance drug candidates.
- Governments regulate drug marketing, pricing, and disposal.
- Controversies have arisen over drug pricing and disposal of used drugs.
Regulation of Medication
- Governments regulate what drugs can be marketed and how they are marketed.
- Some jurisdictions also regulate drug pricing.
- Drug pricing and disposal have been subjects of controversy.
- Drug discovery and development are regulated processes.
- Different laws and regulations apply to traditional small molecule drugs and biological products.
Medication Data Sources
| Reference | URL |
|---|---|
| Glossary | https://www.alternix.com/blogs/glossary-of-terms/medication |
| Wikipedia | http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medication |
| Wikidata | https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12140 |
| Knowledge Graph | https://www.google.com/search?kgmid=/m/09ylyb |
