Medication

Medication (also called medicament, medicine, pharmaceutical drug, medicinal product, medicinal drug or simply drug) is a <a href="/facts/Drug/FFFUI9n4">drug</a> used to <a href="/facts/Medical_diagnosis/J47rvb0p">diagnose</a>, <a href="/facts/Cure/GdeXt9g3">cure</a>, treat, or <a href="/facts/Preventive_medicine/pWGlacXu">prevent</a> disease. Drug therapy (<a href="/facts/Pharmacotherapy/bEX4Xo3y">pharmacotherapy</a>) is an important part of the <a href="/facts/Medicine/2fnp90Je">medical field</a> and relies on the science of <a href="/facts/Pharmacology/4Rx8s7Ie">pharmacology</a> for continual advancement and on <a href="/facts/Pharmacy/P2KTFVdW">pharmacy</a> for appropriate management.
<a href="/facts/Drug/FFFUI9n4">Drugs</a> are <a href="/facts/Drug_class/CegnN5Yr">classified</a> in many ways. One of the key divisions is by level of <a href="/facts/Controlled_substance/Hx9cKG4f">control</a>, which distinguishes <a href="/facts/Prescription_drug/a2zNYPMq">prescription drugs</a> (those that a pharmacist dispenses only on the <a href="/facts/Medical_prescription/4jt1T3mY">medical prescription</a>) from <a href="/facts/Over-the-counter_drug/QI3FcgRf">over-the-counter drugs</a> (those that consumers can order for themselves). Medicines may be classified by mode of action, <a href="/facts/Route_of_administration/LsyoHTzH">route of administration</a>, <a href="/facts/Biological_system/yKqVbaxu">biological system</a> affected, or <a href="/facts/Therapeutic_effect/hvUtqFdR">therapeutic effects</a>. The <a href="/facts/World_Health_Organization/YNN3bgug">World Health Organization</a> keeps a list of <a href="/facts/Essential_medicines/6bmwBsuo">essential medicines</a>.
<a href="/facts/Drug_discovery/LLdDNvjy">Drug discovery</a> and <a href="/facts/Drug_development/k34jgV4B">drug development</a> are complex and expensive endeavors undertaken by <a href="/facts/Pharmaceutical_industry/5mCITYys">pharmaceutical companies</a>, academic scientists, and governments. As a result of this complex path from discovery to commercialization, partnering has become a standard practice for advancing drug candidates through development pipelines. Governments generally regulate what drugs can be marketed, <a href="/facts/Pharmaceutical_marketing/6gbpBNx5">how drugs are marketed</a>, and in some jurisdictions, <a href="/facts/Drug_pricing/asuD2SAd">drug pricing</a>. Controversies have arisen over drug pricing and disposal of used medications.

Medication open-in-new

Medication