medicine

• Medicine


  Chemicals or compounds used to cure, halt, or prevent disease; ease symptoms; or help in the diagnosis of illnesses
• Medicine


  Any chemical substance that when consumed causes a change in an organism's physiology, including its psychology, if applicable
• Medicine


  A chemical substance used to treat or prevent illness. Other words for medicine are drugs, and pharmaceuticals
• Routes of administration


  • Inhalation
  • Injection
  • Ingestion
  • Absorption via a patch on the skin
  • Suppository
  • Dissolution under the tongue
• Forms of medicines/drugs


  • Tablets and Capsules
  • Liquid Medications
  • Topical Medications
  • Inhalants
  • Injectable Medications
  • Suppositories
  • Powders
  • Lozenges
  • Transdermal Patches
• Tablets


  Solid dosage forms that contain medication compressed into a small, flat shape
• Capsules


  Consist of medication enclosed in a gelatin shell
• Liquid Medications


  Come in various forms such as syrups, solutions and suspensions. They are easy to swallow and are often preferred for pediatric and geriatric patients who have difficulty swallowing tablets or capsules
• Topical Medications


  Are applied directly to the skin or mucous membranes for localized treatment. They come in forms such as creams, ointments, gels, lotions, sprays, and patches
• Topical Medications


  • Topical antibiotics, corticosteroids, and analgesic creams
• Inhalants


  Are delivered directly to the lungs through inhalation. They are commonly used to treat respiratory conditions such as asthma, COPD, and allergies. Inhalant forms include metered-dose inhalers (MDIs), dry powder inhalers (DPIs), nebulized solutions, and nasal sprays
• Injectable Medications


  Are administered via injection and include forms such as intramuscular (IM), subcutaneous (SC), and intravenous (IV) injections. They are used for rapid drug delivery, precise dosing, and when oral administration is not feasible or effective
• Suppositories


  Are solid dosage forms that are inserted into the rectum or vagina for systemic or local effects. They melt or dissolve at body temperature, releasing the medication. Suppositories are commonly used for conditions such as constipation, hemorrhoids, and nausea
• Powders


  Can be dissolved in liquid or sprinkled onto food for administration. They are available as single-dose packets, bulk powders, or effervescent formulations. Powdered medications are commonly used for reconstitution of oral suspensions or for easy swallowing
• Lozenges


  (also known as throat lozenges or cough drops) are solid dosage forms designed to dissolve slowly in the mouth, releasing medication to alleviate symptoms such as sore throat, cough, or oral infections
• Transdermal Patches


  Are adhesive patches that deliver medication through the skin and into the bloodstream over a prolonged period. They provide continuous, controlled drug release and are commonly used for medications such as nicotine patches, hormonal patches, and pain relief patches
• Classification of medicine by therapeutic use

  • Analgesics
  • Antibiotics
  • Antidepressants
  • Antihypertensives
  • Antipyretics
  • Antivirals
  • Antacids
  • Antiemetics
  • Anticoagulants
  • Antidiabetics
• Classification of medicine by chemical composition

  • Small Molecules
  • Biologics
  • Natural Products
• Classification of medicine by legal status

  • Prescription Medications
  • Over-the-Counter (OTC) Medications
  • Controlled Substances
• Prescription Drugs


  Medications that can only be obtained with a prescription from a licensed healthcare professional
• Examples of Prescription Drugs

  • Antibiotics
  • Antidepressants
  • Antihypertensives
  • Antidiabetic medications
  • Anticoagulants
  • Analgesics
  • Antipsychotics
  • Hormonal therapies
  • Immunosuppressants
  • Chemotherapy agents
• Prescription drugs often have specific dosages, administration instructions, potential side effects, and contraindications that need to be carefully considered by healthcare providers before prescribing them to patients
• Prescription drugs are typically dispensed by pharmacies upon presentation of a valid prescription from a healthcare provider
• Antibiotics


  • Penicillin (e.g., amoxicillin, penicillin G)
  • Cephalosporins (e.g., cephalexin, ceftriaxone)
  • Macrolides (e.g., azithromycin, erythromycin)
  • Tetracyclines (e.g., doxycycline, tetracycline)
  • Fluoroquinolones (e.g., ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin)
  • Sulfonamides (e.g., sulfamethoxazole)
  • Aminoglycosides (e.g., gentamicin, amikacin)
• Penicillin


  Inhibit bacterial cell wall synthesis by binding to and inhibiting enzymes called penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs)
• Cephalosporins


  Similar to penicillin's, cephalosporins also inhibit bacterial cell wall synthesis
• Macrolides


  Interfere with bacterial protein synthesis
• Tetracyclines


  Inhibit bacterial protein synthesis
• Fluoroquinolones


  Inhibit bacterial DNA synthesis by targeting bacterial enzymes involved in DNA replication, transcription, and repair. Inhibition of these enzymes leads to the accumulation of double-stranded breaks in bacterial DNA, ultimately causing cell death
• Sulfonamides


  Inhibit bacterial folate synthesis by competitively inhibiting the enzyme which is involved in the synthesis of tetrahydrofolic acid, an essential precursor for nucleic acid synthesis. By blocking folate synthesis, sulfonamides disrupt DNA, RNA, and protein synthesis in bacteria
• Aminoglycosides


  Inhibit bacterial protein synthesis. Inhibition of protein synthesis ultimately leads to bacterial cell death
• Instructions for taking antibiotics

  • Follow the prescribed dosage and schedule
  • Take it at the right time
  • Watch for side effects
  • Complete the full course
  • Do not share
  • Inform your health care provider of any untoward reaction
• Antihypertensives


  • Diuretics
  • Beta-blockers
  • Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors
  • Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs)
  • Calcium channel blockers (CCBs)
  • Alpha-blockers
  • Central alpha agonists
  • Direct vasodilators
• Diuretics


  Increase urine production, leading to decreased blood volume and thus reducing blood pressure. They work by inhibiting sodium reabsorption in the kidneys
• Beta-blockers


  Block the effects of adrenaline (epinephrine) on the heart and blood vessels. By doing so, they reduce heart rate and cardiac output, which lowers blood pressure
• ACE inhibitors


  Block the conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II, a potent vasoconstrictor. This leads to vasodilation and decreased blood pressure
• ARBs


  Block the effects of angiotensin II on blood vessels, thereby causing vasodilation and lowering blood pressure. They do this by selectively blocking the angiotensin II receptors
• Calcium channel blockers (CCBs)


  Block calcium channels in the heart and blood vessels, leading to vasodilation and reduced cardiac contractility. This results in decreased blood pressure
• Alpha-blockers


  Inhibit the action of adrenaline on alpha-adrenergic receptors, leading to vasodilation and reduced peripheral resistance. This results in decreased blood pressure
• Central alpha agonists


  Reduce sympathetic outflow from the central nervous system, leading to decreased peripheral resistance and blood pressure