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.