Medication
Substance used to diagnose, cure, treat, or prevent disease.
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Medication—also referred to as a medicament, medicine, pharmaceutical drug, or simply a drug—is a substance used to diagnose, cure, treat, or prevent disease. This field of treatment, known as pharmacotherapy, is a core part of medicine, relying on pharmacology for ongoing progress and on pharmacy for proper handling. Drugs are grouped in various ways: a major split is by regulatory control, separating prescription drugs (dispensed only with a doctor's order) from over-the-counter drugs (which people can buy themselves). Other classifications include mode of action, how they are given, which body system they affect, or their therapeutic use. The World Health Organization maintains a list of essential medicines.
Discovering and developing new drugs is a costly and complex process carried out by pharmaceutical companies, academic researchers, and governments. Because the path from discovery to market is so involved, partnerships are common to move drug candidates through development. Governments typically regulate which drugs can be sold, how they are marketed, and in some cases, their pricing. Disputes have arisen over drug costs and the disposal of used medications.
By definition, a medication is a chemical compound used to treat or cure illness. Encyclopædia Britannica calls it "a substance used in treating a disease or relieving pain." The National Cancer Institute notes that dosage forms include tablets, capsules, liquids, creams, and patches. Medications can be given in different ways, such as by mouth, through a vein, or as drops in the ear or eye. A placebo is a medication without an active ingredient, used in research studies.
In Europe, the term "medicinal product" is defined by EU law as any substance presented as having properties for treating or preventing disease in humans, or any substance used in or given to humans to restore, correct, or modify physiological functions through pharmacological, immunological, or metabolic action, or to make a medical diagnosis. In the US, a "drug" is defined as a substance (other than food) intended to affect the body's structure or function; a substance intended for use as a component of a medicine (excluding devices or their parts); a substance intended for diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease; or a substance recognized by an official pharmacopeia or formulary.
Quick Facts
- Synonym
- Medicine, drug, pharmaceutical, pharmaceutical preparation, pharmaceutical product, medicinal product, medicament, remedy, meds
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Medication has been central to medicine for centuries, with early drugs discovered from traditional remedies or by chance. Modern drug discovery involves identifying active ingredients, screening chemical libraries, and using high-throughput screening against biological targets. The process is lengthy, expensive, and inefficient, with a low rate of new therapeutic discovery. Drug development includes pre-clinical research on microorganisms or animals, followed by clinical trials on humans, and regulatory approval before marketing.
Reader's Guide
Medication is fundamental to modern healthcare, enabling the treatment and prevention of countless diseases. Its significance lies in its ability to restore, correct, or modify physiological functions. The classification systems—by therapeutic function, route of administration, or level of control—help standardize use and regulation. The World Health Organization's list of essential medicines ensures access to critical treatments globally. However, controversies over drug pricing and disposal of used medications highlight ongoing challenges. The complex and expensive path from discovery to commercialization, often involving partnerships between pharmaceutical companies, academic scientists, and governments, underscores the high stakes of pharmaceutical innovation. Despite advances, drug discovery remains a difficult process with a high failure rate, making each successful medication a notable achievement.
Did You Know?
- In a study of elderly Americans (average age 71) from 2010–2011, 88% took at least one prescription drug, 38% took an over-the-counter drug, and 64% took a dietary supplement.
- A medication that does not contain an active ingredient and is used in research studies is called a placebo.
- The World Health Organization keeps a list of essential medicines.
- Drug discovery is different from drug development; discovery identifies new medicine, while development brings it to clinical practice.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Medication in the context of Human Variation and Health?
In this field, Medication refers to any substance designed to help diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent a disease. It sits at the heart of pharmacotherapy, the branch of medicine that relies on pharmacology for progress and pharmacy for proper handling.
How are Medications classified?
The most common split divides them into prescription drugs (requiring a doctor's order) and over-the-counter drugs (available without one). Other ways to categorize them include their mode of action, delivery method, or whether they are small molecules versus biological medical products.
What are the main routes for administering Medication?
Medications can be taken orally, delivered as an intravenous infusion, or applied as drops to the ear or eye, among other methods. The chosen route depends on the drug's properties and the condition being treated.
Who oversees Medication regulation?
National governments handle the approval, marketing, and pricing of drugs within their jurisdictions. The World Health Organization also maintains a list of essential medicines that should be accessible in every health system.
How expensive is it to develop a new Medication?
As of 2010, bringing a single new molecular entity to market cost roughly US$1.8 billion. That figure reflects the lengthy research, testing, and regulatory process behind every approved drug.
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