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DRUGS

Drugs are chemical substances used in medicine in the treatment of diseases. These chemical substances can come from many different sources. Drugs are obtained from various parts of plants (roots, leaves, fruit), from animals (hormones secreted from glands). Also they can be made from chemical substances which are synthesized in the laboratory. Anticancer drugs, such as methotrexate and prednisone, are examples of laboratory-synthesized drugs.

There are many drug classifications in the modern pharmacology. Each drug can be classified into one or more drug classes. Moreover, drugs may be grouped by the chemical type of the active ingredient or by the way it is used to treat a particular condition. According to the most general classification, drugs can be divided into such groups: neuropharmacological, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal drugs, antimicrobials, antihistamines and vitamins.

Neuropharmacologicaldrugs are the drugs acting on the human nervous system.

The drugs that affect the heart, blood pressure and prevent blood clotting are known as cardiovascular drugs. The most common drugs used to change the rate and forcefulness of the heartbeat are digitalis glycosides. These drugs are used to treat patients with heart failure. The drugs that affect blood pressure are vasodilators and vasoconstrictors. Vasodilators relax the muscles of the vessel walls; vasoconstrictors constrict muscle fibers around the blood vessel opening. Anticoagulants are used to prevent the formation of clots in the blood vessels. Aspirin is the widely used anticoagulant.

Gastrointestinal drugs relieve disorders of the gastrointestinal tract. For example, antacids (aluminum hydroxide, sodium bicarbonate) neutralize acid in the digestive system. Drugs that kill or help to prevent multiplication of bacteria or viruses that infect the body are called antimicrobials. Antimicrobials that act against bacteria include antibiotics and sulfonamides (sulfa drugs). Antibiotics are obtained from naturally occurring microorganisms. Sulfa drugs are prepared synthetically. A large dose of penicillin or certain other antibiotics kills disease-causing bacteria. A smaller dose of such an antibiotic as well as of a sulfonamide keeps bacteria from multiplying. Antimicrobials that act against viruses are known as antiviral drugs. For example, the antiviral drug zidovudine is used in the treatment of AIDS.

Antihistamines block the action of histamine and remove an allergic response to the allergy-causing substance.

Vitamins are necessary for proper body functioning.

Medications are divided into over-the-counter drugs (OTC) which are available without special restrictions, and prescription only medicines (POM), which must be prescribed by a licensed medical practitioner. Drugs are dispensed and stored in an area known as a pharmacy. Some drugs are potent and can be dangerous if taken in an overdose. In fact, any medicine can cause mild or severe side effects. Therefore, its use must be strictly controlled.