Medicines and Drugs

 The Role of Medicine

 Medicines- drugs that are used to treat or prevent disease or other conditions  Drugs- substances other than food that change the structure or function of the body or mind  All medicines are drugs, but not all drugs are medicines

 Vaccine- preparation introduced into the body to stimulate an immune response  Help to produce antibodies  antitoxins- contain antibodies, act more quickly than vaccine

 Analgesics is the most common type  Can range from mild (aspirin) to Strong Morphine or Codeine  Aspirin should never be taken under the age of 20 unless directed by a doctor.

 Allergy medicines  Body-regulating medicines  Antidepressant medicines  Cancer Treatment Medicines

 Most medicines cause side effects  Side effects- reactions of medicine other than the one attended  Medicine combinations  Additive interaction- medicines work together in a positive way  Synergistic effect- two or more medicines that when taken together cause a greater effect then just one of the medicines taken alone  Antagonistic interaction- effect is canceled or reduced when taken with another med.

 Tolerance- condition where the body becomes use to the effect of medicine  Withdrawal- occurs when someone has a physical or philological independence on a certain medicine

 All medicines that are on the market must be approved by the FDA  Prescription medicines- cannot be used with out the consent of a doctor  Over-the-counter medicine- can by with out consent from a doctor (Tylenol, aspirin, ex.) 

 Giving a prescription medicine to a person for whom it was not prescribed to, or taking another medicine  Taking too much or too little of a medicine  Discontinuing use of a medicine withour informing the health care professional  Mixing medicines

 What are the 4 broad categories of medicine?  What government organization tests and approves all new medications?  What are some examples of Medicine Misuse

 Substance abuse- any unnecessary or improper use of chemical substances for non-medical purposes  Illegal drugs (street drugs)- chemical substances that people of any age may not lawfully manufacture, process, buy, or sell  Illicit drug use- the use or sale of any substance that is illegal or otherwise not permitted

 Peer pressure  Family members  Role models  Media messages  Perceptions

 Physical consequences- can harm the lungs, brain, heart, and other vital organs also have the risk of overdose  Overdose- strong, sometimes fatal reaction to taking a large amount of a drug

 Mental/ emotional consequences- users lose control of behavior  Social consequences- can have a very negative effect on relationships

 Tolerance  Psychological dependence  Physiological dependence  Addiction

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