1. Understanding Medicines

2. Medicine
Definition: substances that, when taken internally or applied to the body, help prevent or cure a disease or other medical problem
Classifications
Prevent disease
Fight pathogens
(microorganisms that enter the body and attack its cells and tissues)
Relieve pain
Help the heart and regulate blood pressure

3. Medicines that prevent disease
Vaccines
Contain a weakened or dead pathogen to a particular disease
Given to prevent one from contracting that disease
When the body is exposed to the vaccine it makes antibodies against that disease
These antibodies stay in the body so when exposed to the real disease the body is prepared to fight it off
Antitoxins
Extracts of blood fluids that contain antibodies
Act more quickly than vaccines
Are made by inoculating animals and uses their antibodies
Injected into human after a possible exposure

4. Medicines that fight pathogens
Antibiotics
Chemical agents that destroy disease causing microorganisms but leave the patient unharmed
Penicillin- discovered in 1928 by Sir Alexander Fleming
They either kill the bacteria or stop it from reproducing
ARE NOT affective against viruses
Several bacteria are becoming resistant to antibiotics
When someone doesn’t take the full amount of an antibiotic, or stops taking it early, the bacteria becomes more resistant to that antibiotic

5. Medicine to relieve pain
Analgesics
OTC analgesics can be harmful
Stomach irritation- ulcers
Thins the blood making clotting difficult
Dizziness and tinnitus
Reye’s syndrome in children (illness of brain and liver)
Common OTC analgesics
Aspirin
Ibuprofen (Advil)- anti-inflammatory
Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
Narcotics
Prescription only
Can be highly addictive
Commonly derivatives of morphine and codeine

6. Analgesics (Pain Relievers)
Aspirin: relieve pain and reduce fever -Blood Thinner -upset stomach, dizziness and ringing in ears -Reye’s Syndrome (brain and liver)
Recommended for your age: -Acetaminophen
Analgesics have a full range from mild to strong -Strong=Narcotics examples?

7. Managing Chronic Conditions
Treat long term illnesses, maintain or restore health, offer a higher level of wellness. -Allergy Medicines: Antihistamines reduce allergy symptoms by blocking the chemical release from the immune system. Life threatening=single shot of epinephrine
Body-regulating medicines: help regulate body chemistry -Insulin, Inhaler, cardiovascular
Antidepressant and Antipsychotic: Help regulate brain chemistry or stabilize moods.
Cancer Treatments: slow or stop the growth of the cancer cells.

8. Cardiovascular medicines
Five types
Beta blockers- helps slow heart rate and lower blood pressure
Diuretics- decreases water and sodium, reducing blood fluid volume, especially important after heart failure
Vasodilators- dilate blood vessels to increase blood and oxygen flow
Antiarrhythmic- help control abnormal heart rhythms
Clot- Dissolving – lower hypertension and prevents blot clotting

9. How Medicines can Enter the Body
There are four ways they can enter
1. oral medications (by mouth)
2. topical medications (through the skin)
3. Inhaled medications (breathed in through the lungs)
4. Injected medications (through a needle, or bite)

10. Reactions in the body Be aware of side effects.
When two medicines are taken together or taken with certain foods- the effect may not be the same when the medicine is taken by itself.
Additive interactions- when medicines work together in a positive way
Synergistic effect- when two or more medicines react resulting in a greater effect than when taken alone
Antagonistic interaction- when the effect of a medicine is cancelled or reduced by another medicine
Tolerance- when the body becomes used to the effects and so needs more to get same results
Withdrawal- when someone stops using a medicine and the body reacts to the lack of it in the system

11. Medicine Safety
Always keep medicine in the original container, with the original label.
Store medicine out of reach of children.
If children are in the house always use the child proof caps provided.
Throw out ALL medicines after their expiration dates.
Know the possible side effects.
Use medicine as directed and for the entire time directed.

12. Medicine Misuse
Definition: using a medication in a way other than the one intended.
Examples of misuse
Giving your prescription to someone else
Taking too much or too little of the medication
Taking someone else’s medication
Stopping use without informing the prescribing doctor
Taking medicine longer then directed
Mixing medicines without direction to do so from a doctor

13. Medicine Abuse
Intentionally taking medications for nonmedical reasons. -to lose weight -to stay awake -to fit in -”pill parties” -taking someone else's prescription

14. Drug Overdose
A strong sometimes fatal reaction to taking a large amount of a drug.

15. FDA (Food and Drug Administration)
Makes sure all drugs are safe to use
Finds out what possible side effects there are
Doesn’t regulate Herbal and Dietary Supplements
Goes through clinical Trials, could still be experimental.

16. Prescription Medicines: medicines that are dispensed only with the written approval of licensed physician or nurse practitioner.
Over-the-Counter (OTC): medicines you can buy without a doctor’s prescription.