By P.Jewel A description of the phamaceutical drug

1. A pharmaceutical drug (medicine or medication and officially medicinal product) is any
chemical substance formulated or compounded as single active ingredient or in combination
of other pharmacologically active substance, it may be in a separate but packed in a single
unit pack as combination product intended for internal, or external or for use in the medical
diagnosis, cure, treatment, or prevention of disease.[1][2][3]
Medications are classified in various ways. One of the key divisions is between traditional
small molecule drugs, usually derived from chemical synthesis, and biopharmaceuticals,
which include recombinant proteins, vaccines, blood products used therapeutically (such as
IVIG), gene therapy, and cell therapy (for instance, stem cell therapies).
Pharmaceuticals are classified in various other groups besides their origin on the basis of
pharmacological properties like mode of action and their pharmacological action or activity,
route of administration, biological system affected, or therapeutic effects. An elaborate and
widely used classification system is the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification
System (ATC system). The World Health Organization keeps a list of essential medicines.
Drug discovery and drug development are complex and expensive endeavors undertaken by
companies, academic scientists, and governments. Governments generally regulate what
drugs can be marketed, how drugs are marketed, and in some jurisdictions, drug pricing.
Controversies have arisen over drug pricing and disposal of used drugs.
From chemistrypointof view,thereisnodistinctionbetweenthe termsdrugsandmedicines,i.e.,all
drugsare medicinesandall medicinesare drugs.However,oursocietyandlaw make a clear-cut
distinctionbetweenthesetwotermsasfollow:
A medicine isachemical substance whichcuresortreatsthe disease,issafe touse,hasnegligible
toxicityanddoesnotaddiction.Incontrast,a drug isa chemical substance whichalsocuresortreats
the disease butishabitforming,causesaddictionandhasseriouseffects.
Drug vs Medicine
The terms “drug” and“medicine”are oftenmistakenlyusedastwosimilarterms.However,inthe
strictestsense,the twohave differentmeaningsordefinitions,andtheycanserve different
purposes.
It isjust the governmentorthe lawthat dictatesthatthese twohave a thinline of separation.Itis
not the dictionarythatgivestheirdistinctdefinitionsbutthe termsof itslegalityandsocial
perception.Asdefinedbylaw,medicineshave fairlynegligible toxicitieswhile drugsare habit-
formingsubstancesthatmayleadto some seriousadverse effectseventhoughitisstill initiallyused
to cure diseases.
The term “drug” nowadaysislinkedmore tospecifickindsof medicationsincluding:stimulants,
hallucinogens,andnarcotics.Withthis,itissafe to saythat drugs are those substancesthathave

2. some formof stimulatingeffectandhave the potential foraddictionwhenusedinanabusive way.
Some of these drugsare veryeasyto administerlikeaddingthemtoyourregulardrink.Usingthese
kindsof substancesisalsotherapeutictosome extent.
“Drug” is takenfromthe Frenchterm “drogue.”It isa substance that can induce what’scalledaform
of stupefactionbecause itstupefiesone’sline of thoughtandstate of mental well-being.This isthe
reasonwhythose takingdrugsin an uncontrolledmannerare calleddrugaddicts.Theytake inthese
substancesregularly.A personwhosellsillegallyaddictive drugsisknownasa drug peddler.
On the otherhand,medicine isrecognizedasany preparationthatismeantfor treatingor
preventingillnesses.Inthe past,thistermislimitedonlytothe preparationsadministeredorally.
Nowadays,ithastakenon a broaderscope.
In anothersense,medicineisafieldof studythatis concernedaboutthe clinical assessment,making
medical diagnoses,treatingdiseases,aswell aspreventingthe occurrence of such.Professionals
who’ve graduatedinthe fieldof medicineandwho’ve officiallypassedthe medical boardexamare
calledM.D.’s(medical doctor) orphysician.Thispersonisanexpertinprescribingandadministering
the right kindof medicationstothe ailingpatient.Contrarytodrugs,medicine ingeneral is
somethingthatwon’tleadtoaddiction.Thus,itdoesn’tstupefythe mind.The term isactuallyof
Latin origin“medicina.”
Summary:
1.Drugs can stupefythe mindunlike medicines.
2.Drugs have a potential of addictionwhilemedicines(inthe general sense) don’tleadtosuch.
3.The term“drugs” (eitherfortherapeuticornon-therapeuticpurposes) isnowadaysthoughtto
have a more negative connotation.
4.Drugs are substancesthatcan still cure diseasestosome extentbutcanhave severe adverse
effectsif usedmore thanwhat’snecessary.
5.Medicine can be a fieldof studywhose graduatesare calledphysiciansorM.D.’s.

3. Read more:Difference Between Drug and Medicine | Difference
Between | Drug vs Medicine
http://www.differencebetween.net/language/words-
language/difference-between-drug-and-
medicine/#ixzz3DOwdNgmdWhat is the difference
between a drug and a medicine?
A medicine is any substance that is designed to prevent or treat diseases
and a drug is designed to produce a specific reaction inside the body.
While there is considerable overlap between the two types of substances, these
differences are also quite important.
Most of the medicines that are also drugs are considered "controlled substances."
This means that there are laws governing their use and that using them in ways
contrary to those laws can lead to criminal charges. Antidepressants like Lexaproare
drugs, in that they are designed to help alleviate the physical symptoms of
depression. However, they are also used in the treatment of the chemical imbalance
that leads to depression, so Lexaprois also a medicine. Cocaine, on the other hand, is
a drug designed to create a specific mental reaction that leads to a "high" for the user.
However, the medical establishment does not recognize any medical benefits for
cocaine at this time. Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medicines such as Advil are
designed to treat pain, but they do not have a strong enough effect to fit into a
controlled substance classification, unlike stronger pain relievers. This means that
these are medicines rather than drugs. Understanding the similarities and
differences between drugs and medicines is an important part of medical and
pharmaceutical training.
Reference:
www.patient.co.uk, www.proz.com
Drug vs Medicine
Drug and Medicine are often confused as one and the same thing. Strictly speaking there is difference
between the two. Although a drug primarily refers to a medicinal substance, it purpose is different
from that of medicine.
A drug is a substance that is often considered narcotic, hallucinogen or a stimulant. In short it can be
said that a drug is stimulating in nature and purpose and it especially causes addiction. It is a normal
practice to administer a drug into the body of a human being. It is also added to a drink or food.
One of the properties of a drug is stupefaction. It stupefies the mind. Hence one who often takes
drugs is dubbed as an addict. Thus the word ‘drug addict’ refers to a person who is addicted to a

4. narcotic drug on a regular basis. A drug peddler is a person who sells especially addictive drugs
illegally. The word ‘drug’ is said to have originated from the old French word ‘drogue’.
The word ‘medicine’ expresses a preparation used for the treatment or prevention of disease. It is
interesting to note that medicine refers to preparation especially the one taken by the mouth.
In the broader sense the word ‘medicine’ would mean the science or practice of the diagnosis,
treatment and prevention of disease. It is seen as a practice quite distinct from surgical methods.
Thus ‘a doctor of medicine’ means a physician who is adept in treating diseases by administering
medicines.
On the other hand medicine does not contribute to the factor of addiction unlike a drug. In other words
it can be said that a medicine does not cause the stupefaction of the mind like a drug. The word
‘medicine’ is derived from the Latin word ‘medicina’. The two words ‘drug’ and ‘medicine should be
used differently.’
Read more: http://www.differencebetween.com/difference-between-drug-and-vs-
medicine/#ixzz3DOxz5oNu