medicines

The word Medicine is derived from the Latin arsmedicina, meaning “The Art of Healing”

It is the field of applied Science related to the Art of Healing by Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention of Disease. It encompasses a variety of Health Care practices evolved to maintain and Restore Health by the prevention and treatment of illness in Human Beings.

Contemporary Medicine applies Health Science, Bio Medical Research, and Medical Technology to Diagnose and treat injury and Disease typically through Medication or Surgery, but also through Therapies as diverse as Psychotherapy, external Splints & Traction, Prostheses, Biologics, Ionizing Radiation and others

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Pharmaceutical Drug, also referred to as a Medicine or Medication, officially called Medicinal Product. It can be defined as any Chemical Substanceintended for Medical use of Diagnosis, Cure, Treatment or Prevention of Disease.

Pharmacist also known as Chemist is the one who practice Pharmacy and study of Medicines. Pharmacists undergo University level education to understand Bio Chemical mechanisms of action of Drugs, Drug uses, and Therapeutic roles, Side effects, potential Drug interactions, and monitoring parameters.

Medicine as Specialty

Internal Medicine is the Medical specialty concerned with the Diagnosis, management and nonSurgical treatment of unusual or serious Diseases, either of one particular Organ system or of the body as a whole.

Diagnostic Specialties

Clinical laboratory -- Sciences are the clinical Diagnostic Services that apply Laboratory Techniques to Diagnosis and management of patients. In the United States, these services are supervised by a Pathologist. Subspecialties include Transfusion medicine, Cellular pathology,Clinical chemistry, Hematology, Clinical microbiology and Clinical immunology.

Pathology as a Medical specialty -- is the branch of Medicine that deals with the study of Diseases and the Morphologic, Physiologic changes produced by them.

Radiology -- is concerned with imaging of the Human body by x-rays, x-ray computed Tomography, Ultrasonographyand Nuclear Magnetic resonance Tomography.

Nuclear Medicine -- is concerned with studying Human Organ systems by administering radiolabelled substances to the body which can then be imaged outside the body by a Gamma camera or a PET scanner. 

Clinical Neurophysiology -- is concerned with testing the Physiology or function of the central and peripheral aspects of the nervous system. Subspecialties include Electroencephalography, Electromyography, Evoked potential, Nerve conduction study and Polysomnography.

Classification

Medicines can be classified in various ways,such as by chemical properties, mode or route of administration, biological system affected, or therapeutic effects.

 Antipyretics -- Reducing Fever (Pyrexia/Pyresis)

 Analgesics -- Reducing pain (Painkillers)

 Antimalarial Drugs -- Treating Malaria

 Antibiotics -- Inhibiting Germ Growth

 Antiseptics -- Prevention of Germ Growth near Burns, Cuts and Wounds

 Mood stabilizers -- Lithium and Valpromide

 Hormone replacements -- Premarin

 Oral contraceptives -- Enovid, "Biphasic" pill, and "Triphasic" pill

 Stimulants -- Methylphenidate (Ritalin)

 Tranquilizers -- Meprobamate, Chlorpromazine, Reserpine, Chlordiazepoxide, Diazepamand Alprazolam

 Statins -- Lovastatin, Pravastatinand Simvastatin

Types of medicines

• Liquid

The active part of the Medicine is combined with a Liquid to make it easier to take or better absorbed. A liquid may also be called a ‘Mixture’, ‘Solution’ or ‘Syrup’.

• Tablet

The active ingredient is combined with another substance and pressed into a round or oval solid shape. There are different types of Tablet, Soluble or dispersible tablets can safely be dissolved in water.

• Capsules

The active part of the Medicine is contained inside a plastic shell that dissolves slowly in the Stomach. Some Capsules can be taken apart so the contents can be mixed with a favorite food. Others need to be swallowed whole so the Medicine is not absorbed until the stomach acid breaks down the Capsule Shell.