Medicines Drugs The Role of Medicines w Drugs

Medicines & Drugs

The Role of Medicines: w Drugs that are used to cure, prevent or treat illness or discomfort n Medicines are classified into 4 categories: w w Prevent disease Fight pathogens Relieve pain Managing chronic conditions

The Role of Medicines Preventing Disease n Vaccines w Weakened or dead pathogens that cause disease are injected into the body to create antibodies to fight the virus. n Antitoxins w Fights bacteria that produces substances that are toxic to the body

The Role of Medicines Fighting Pathogens n Antibiotics: w n kills harmful bacteria Be careful of antibiotic resistance w Taking antibiotics too often cause your body to build up a resistance to the medicine.

The Role of Medicines Relieving Pain n Can range from Aspirin to Codeine Managing Chronic Conditions n Allergy medicines w Antihistamines n Body-regulating medicines w Insulin & inhalers n Antidepressant & antipsychotic medicines w Mood stabilizers n Cancer treatment medicines w Chemotherapy, immunotherapy

Taking Medicines Orally Topical application Inhaled Injected Transdermal patches n Skin Patches

Reactions To Medicines Side Effects n Diarrhea, Drowsiness, even death! Drug Interactions n When a drug reacts with another drug, food or dietary supplement

Using Medicines Safely Prescription Medicines n n n Always for a limited amount of time Contain instructions on when & how often the medicine should be taken Label must include any special instructions, doctor’s name, patient’s name, pharmacy’s name & address, date it was filled, prescription number, number of refills Over-the-counter (OTC) medicines n OTC’s treat symptoms, NOT disease

Correct vs. Incorrect To use a drug means to take a medicine exactly as directed. To misuse a drug is to take a medication improperly. To abuse a drug is to take a legal drug for a non-medical reason, or an illegal drug for any reason at all.