Medicinal Drugs

Understanding Medicinal Drugs

  • Medicinal drugs are substances used to either prevent, diagnose or treat diseases.
  • They work by either killing bacteria (antibacterials), reducing inflammation (anti-inflammatory drugs), relieving pain (analgesics), or managing chronic conditions (e.g. insulin for diabetes).
  • They are designed to interact with specific target sites in the body, often proteins, to induce a therapeutic effect.

Administration of Medicinal Drugs

  • Medicinal drugs can be administered in various ways including orally (pills or liquids), injection, inhalation, or topically (creams).
  • The method of administration influences how quickly and how effectively the drug is absorbed into the bloodstream.
  • Once in the bloodstream, the drug is transported throughout the body to its target site.

Potential Risks and Side-Effects of Medicinal Drugs

  • As well as their desired effect, drugs can cause unwanted side-effects, which can range from mild to severe.
  • Side-effects occur when a drug has an effect on a part of the body that is not its intended target.
  • These could include headaches, nausea, allergies or even more severe effects like kidney or liver damage.
  • It’s vital to ensure that the benefits of taking a drug outweigh the risks – this is considered during drug trials.

Development and Testing of Medicinal Drugs

  • Developing new drugs involves a long and rigorous procedure that includes drug discovery, preclinical testing, clinical trials, and finally release to the market.
  • During preclinical testing, a drug’s safety and efficacy is tested in laboratories and on animals before it can be approved for human trials.
  • Clinical trials are then conducted in several phases to test safety, dosage, and efficacy on a select group of human volunteers.
  • Only after passing this thorough examination can a drug be released onto the market.

Misuse of Medicinal Drugs

  • Misuse of medicinal drugs, such as taking too much of a drug, taking it for the wrong reasons or combining it inappropriately with other substances, can be dangerous and potentially lethal.
  • Misuse can also lead to the development of tolerance or dependence on the drug.
  • Overuse of some types of medicinal drugs, like antibiotics, can lead to resistance, where the drugs no longer have the desired effect.