In order to know the meaning of the term medicine, we are going to proceed, first of all, to discover its etymological origin. In this case, we can emphasize that it is a word that derives from Latin, specifically it emanates from "medicamentum." What's more, we can establish that it is the result of the union of the following lexical components:
-The verb "mederi", which is synonymous with "heal".
-The suffix «-ico», which can be translated as «relative to».
-The suffix "-ment", which is used to indicate both "result" and "instrument".
The term refers to the substance that is used for the prevention, relief or cure of a disease or for the repair of its consequences .
There are several words that can serve as synonyms for medicine. Among these we can highlight some such as drug, medicine , potion, remedy, concoction, concoction, antidote, potion, drug, preparation or even ointment.
There are medications that are applied externally and others that must be ingested. They generally contain one or more drugs that act in the treatment of disorders that affect health .
Medications must be dispensed with the approval of the country's health authorities. Before receiving permission to market, medicines are analyzed and subjected to numerous tests to verify their effects on people or animals.
The control and management of medicines is so important that there are institutions and organizations such as, for example, the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products (AEMPS). It was launched in 1997, it is a state-type agency and its main function is the evaluation and authorization of the marketing of medicines, health products and cosmetics.
The composition of a medicine includes drugs (which are the active ingredients ) and excipients (which are inactive at a pharmacological level). The combination of these materials in each case constitutes the pharmaceutical form of the product in question.
This pharmaceutical form, also called galenic form , allows the normalization of the medication dose . In this way we seek to guarantee the effectiveness of the dosage.
Depending on the form of marketing, it is possible to differentiate between prescription medication and over-the-counter medication . Prescription medication is only sold based on a written order from a medical professional. The over-the-counter medication, on the other hand, is sold in any pharmacy without a prescription or prescription.
If we take into account the use of medications, these can be classified into:
-Analgesics, which serve to relieve and end pain.
-Antacids, which reduce gastric secretions.
-Antidiarrheals, which relieve and stop diarrhea.
-Anti-allergic, which fight against the effects caused by an allergy.
-Anti-inflammatories, which reduce the effects of inflammation.
-Anti-infectives, useful for dealing with infections.
-Antitussives, which help reduce non-productive cough.
-Antipyretics, which are to reduce and end fever.
Regarding routes of administration, medications can be oral , sublingual , subcutaneous , intramuscular , intravenous or transdermal , to name a few possibilities. The format is usually linked to its therapeutic objective.