Terminology Related to Drug

• Drug is any chemical agent except food that is used to promote or safeguard the health of human beings or animals. It is also defined as any substance or product that is used or intended, to be used to modify or explore physiological systems or pathological states for the benefit of the recipient. The word drug is derived from a French word ‘Drogue’ meaning a dry herb.
• Over the counter drugs are those preparations that can be sold without any prescription because they can be adequately labeled for layman use.
• Prescription drugs are drugs that can be used only on the order of a licensed veterinarian/physician/dentist/surgeon based on a prescription. They are also known as legend drugs.
• Essential drugs are agents that satisfy the healthcare needs of majority of the population. They should therefore be available at all times in adequate amounts and in appropriate dosage form.
• Pro-drugs are drugs that are inactive or have a low order of activity in the form administered and are metabolised to the active form in the body.
• Hard drugs are drugs used for non-medical purposes that are liable to disable the individual seriously as a functioning member of the society by inducing severe psychological and/or physical dependence. eg. Heroin
• Soft drugs are drugs used for non-medical purposes that are less dependence producing. There may be psychological dependence but not physical dependence, except with heavy dose. eg. Amphetamine.
• Nootropic drugs are drugs that affect the intellect. These drugs are claimed to enhance learning, increase brain resistance to stress including hypoxia and stimulate brain metabolism especially in senile patients. eg. Piracetam
• Orphan drugs are drugs or biological products useful for diagnosis/treatment/prevention of a rare disease condition for which there is no reasonable expectation that the cost of developing and marketing it will be recovered from the sales of that drug. Eg. Acetylcysteine. These drugs may be life saving for some patients, but are not commercially available.
• Placebo is a vehicle for cure by suggestion and is surprisingly often successful though only temporarily. It can be used as a control in scientific evaluation of drugs and to benefit or please a patient not by pharmacological actions but by psychological means (Latin: Placebo – I shall be pleasing or acceptable). Placebo reactor is an individual who report changes of physical and mental state after taking a pharmacologically inert substance.