Medicines and health products

• Types of medicine


  • Pre-medicine
  • Over-the-counter medicine
  • Prescription medicine
• Pre-medicine


  Intended for prevention and treatment of illness
• Over-the-counter medicine


  • Intended for minor ailments like indigestion, headaches, coughing
  • Can be bought cheaply without a doctor's prescription
  • Formulated to be safe and not require aggressive treatment
• Prescription medicine


  • Intended for major ailments like diabetes, cancer, or heart disease
  • Require a licensed qualified medical professional to order for their patients
  • Can only be filled by a licensed pharmacist
  • Protected by patient laws for a certain number of years, allowing the drug company to set the price exclusively
• Prescription medicines are intended for patients and cannot be legally shared with others
• Over-the-counter medicines can be handed down to any friend, co-worker, or family member as long as the proper instructions are followed
• Prescription medicines provide aggressive treatment for certain patients suffering the same ailment
• Over-the-counter medicines are inexpensive and can be bought cheaply, unlike the branded prescription medicines
• Prescription medicines are bought at a pharmacy, while over-the-counter medicines can be bought anywhere
• Only licensed qualified medical professionals and pharmacists can order and fill prescription medicines for their patients
• Medicine


  The science or practice of diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease
• Ars medicina


  Latin for "the art of healing"
• Medicine


  • Encompasses a variety of dynamic health care practices that maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness
• Types and uses of medicine

  • Over-the-counter
• Over-the-counter medicines


  Intended for minor ailments such as indigestion, headaches or coughing
• Over-the-counter medicines do not require a doctor's prescription
• Over-the-counter medicines can be handed down to any friend, co-worker, or family member suffering the same ailment as long as the proper instructions are followed
• Over-the-counter medicines can be used without fear of dangerous reactions or overdoses
• Most over-the-counter medicines are inexpensive and can be bought more cheaply than the branded ones