Drug Vs Medicine: What’s The Difference?

1.What Are Drugs?

Recreational drugs- Picture Courtesy: iStock

Drugs can be defined as chemical substances obtained from plants and animal sources. They are essential to bring the desired change in body such as physiological or mental change. However, the effect of drugs can be seen both in positive and negative way.

Thus, we may conclude drug as powerful material that can be used to treat certain illnesses and diseases without any fix outcome. Drugs are also used in making medicines as active pharmaceutical ingredients. That's why, it is said that all medicines are drugs but not all drugs are medicines.

2.What Are Medicines?

Various medicines- Picture Courtesy: Shutterstock

Medicines refer to the formulated medications used for curing and preventing certain diseases like cancer, hepatitis, and diabetes etc. Medicines are available in different forms such as solid dosage form including tablets and capsules or liquid dosage form like syrups and vaccines.

Unlike drugs, medicines have defined outcomes in form of therapeutic effects and possible side effects. Similarly, they are made by combining together active pharmaceutical ingredients and excipients for stable medicine administration in body.

3.Drug Vs Medicine: What's The Difference?

Although, drug and medicine is often used synonymously but both of them vary in multiple aspects. To make the difference more clear for you, we have highlighted few notable areas which are as follows:

Meaning

The term drug is originated from French word "drogue" which means "dry herbs". It signifies plant sources which were preferred by ancient people to treat health disorders. Thus, it can be said that drugs are original and primary substances which are used for generating physiological effects.

On the other hand, the word medicine is derived from Latin word "medicina" meaning "to heal" or "a physician". It demonstrates that a physician heal the patients by prescribing medicines.

History

Evolution of medicine- Picture Courtesy: openmedscience.com

Human history is such a beautiful and horrible chapter that uncover the surprising discoveries about drugs. As first humans were haunter-gatherers, they used to check different plants and animals for their effects. The beneficial substances were then identified and documented from generation to generation. The early writings about drugs trace back to 3000 BC and 4000 BC in China.

Medicines have been discovered over the course of history being started from ancient Greece in around 2700 BCE. Hippocrates is called the "Father of Medicine" I the inherent age. However, the modern medicine development is occured during 17th century.

Purpose

Patient taking capsules with glass of water- Picture Courtesy: garmeylaw.com

Drugs are taken for two reasons: either for treatment or for personal pleasure. From this, the purpose of drugs can be simply understood which is to relieve pain and bring desired physical and mental change.

While as, the sole purpose of medicine is to eliminate particular disease and manage health condition.

Components

Various components of drug & medicine- Picture Courtesy: arkbh.com

Drug is a single component with no specific dose. It is referred to as the active pharmaceutical ingredient which has the potential to generate desired effect.

In contrast, medicine is a formulation of active pharmaceutical ingredients along with excipients to produce stable dosage form.

Sources

Plant sources of drug & medicine- Picture Courtesy: garudahealth.org

Drugs are obtained from multiple sources which are either natural or synthetic. The common examples include plants, animals, minerals, and microorganisms.

On the other hand, the source of medicine is drug combined with excipients which are inactive ingredients.

Side Effects

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Drugs do have potential side effects which can be harmful and may go to extreme level if dosage is increased. Commonly, these side effects are same for all kinds of patients.

However, the side effects of medicines vary from person to person. It is because every individual has different system to process the medicine and react with it. Thus, allergic reaction and other symptoms may or may not occur.

4.Types Of Drug Vs Medicine?

Drugs and medicines can be categorized into various types on the basis of their effects and formulations respectively. These types are mentioned below:

Drugs

Opioids

Opioid- Picture Courtesy: nursingcenter.com

It refers to the class of drug which is derived from opium. Such drugs are used as pain relievers and used both legally and illegally.

Depressants

Patient with depressant drugs- Picture Courtesy: medicalnewstoday.com

Depressant drugs are also called downers due to their function of reducing stimulation in nervous system. In this way, these drugs keep the brain calm and relax. It is important to note that minimal doses of depressants is useful, however, excessive amount can lead to serious condition like death.

Stimulants

Stimulants- Picture Courtesy: primroselodge.com

As the name indicates, stimulants is a group of drugs made for stimulating by accelerating the messages flow between brain and body. Thus, a person feel more energized and alert. However, overdose can lead to adverse reaction like anxiety.

Party Drugs

Hallucinogens- Picture Courtesy: libertyhouseclinic.co.uk

It is another powerful category of drug class that change the person's perception and interpretation of external world. It is considered the most dangerous drug type as the sense of reality changes. Hallucinogens and stimulants are the common examples.

Inhalants

Patient holding inhaler near mouth- Picture Courtesy: familyhealthdiary.co.nz

Inhalants are substances that are taken by mouth or through sniffing. They absorb very quickly into bloodstream as a result of which a person feel high. The common examples include volatile solvents, aerosol sprays, gases, and nitrites etc.

Prescription Drugs

Doctor prescribing drugs to patient- Picture Courtesy: theconversation.com

Prescription drugs are prescribed by doctors which are not harmful if taken as per suggestions. These drugs include pain killers and sleeping pills.

Medicines

Tablets & Pills

Tablets & pills- Picture Courtesy: healthnews.ng

Tablets and pills are solid dosage forms. They are made by compressing powder, granules, or pellets. With small to large size, easy drug administration, and stable dissolution, tablets and pills are popular medicine types. Effervescent tablets, sublingual tablets, and coated tablets are the common examples.

Capsules

Hard gel capsules- Picture Courtesy: gelita.com

In addition to tablets and pills, capsules constitute an important category of medicines. These include softgel and hard gel capsules. The former is used for encasing liquid medication, while as, the later is frequently used to deliver solid medication.

Syrups

Syrup dispensing into spoon- Picture Courtesy: recnotes.com

Medicines are also produced in liquid form such as syrups and suspension etc. They are often used to aid convenient way of medicine taking instead of swallowing large and oversized pills.

Patches

Women pasting a medicated patch over affected area on hand- Picture Courtesy: istockphoto.com

Certain medicinal substances are also given through patches. These sticky patches, when applied to the external part of body, relieve pain and cure injury by infusing the medicine.

Injection

Doctor filling injection from vaccine vial- Picture Courtesy: hopkinsmedicine.org

Injection is another type of liquid medicine which is often inserted into body instead of oral consumption. The use of vaccines through injection is the notable example.

Topical Solutions

Ointment- Picture Courtesy: istockphoto.com

Such type of medicines are made in semi-liquid form like gels, ointments, and cream etc., which are spread and applied over affected area for cure.

Dissolving Strips

Woman keeping oral strip over tongue- Picture Courtesy: wellbeingnutrition.com

Medicines are also available in form of strips such as oral strips. These strips are simply placed in the mouth which dissolve with saliva.

Suppositories

Doctor holding a suppository in hand- Picture Courtesy: researchdive.com

Suppositories are among other types of medicines which carry good proportion of medicine. These suppositories are in solid form but melt down quickly due to body temperature. Examples include rectal suppositories, vaginal suppositories, and urethral suppositories.

5.Uses Of Drug Vs Medicine?

Liquid & powder drugs- Picture Courtesy: havendetoxne.com

Drug is a broad category which is taken in both sense like medical and non-medical. Similarly, its use is intended to treat diseases, while at the same time, people use it for recreational activities in parties which leads to drug abuse. Thus, drugs are used for both therapeutic and non-therapeutic use.

On the other hand, medicines are only developed for positive effects like antibiotics, pain killers, and insulin etc. These medicines are targeted to eliminate specific diseases. Hence, medicines have only therapeutic use.

6.Social Impact Of Drug Vs Medicine?

Boy with stop drug banner- Picture Courtesy: refocus.com.au

Both drugs and medicines have far reaching social impacts. It can be explained under following headings:

Positive Impact:

As far as the positive social impacts are concerned, so, medicines help in the management of healthy environment by provision of good treatment to individuals. By the effective use of medicines, chronic and unconventional diseases can easily tackled, leading to safety and enhanced mortality.

Similarly, drugs are useful to calm down a triggered nervous system and help in stimulating desired physical and mental effects.

Negative Impact:

Constant use of drugs badly impact the society. It causes social unrest due to increase in violence as the drug users show abnormal behavior. Overall, it is the root cause for drug abuse and enhanced crime rate.

Conclusion

To summarize, Drug Vs Medicine: What's the difference? is an important question about which we should have information. That's why, this blog highlighted the key differences between drug and medicine from their literal meaning till usage, history, and popular types. Although, both have positive social impacts, but over use especially of drugs can leave catastrophic effects at large. Thus, it is necessary to consider these facts in mind and always look for a safe and suitable way. If you are eager to learn more about similar topics, then visit our website!