drug

Any chemical agent that affects the function of living things. Some, including antibiotics, stimulants, tranquilizers, antidepressants, analgesics, narcotics, and hormones, have generalized effects. Others, including laxatives, heart stimulants, anticoagulants, diuretics, and antihistamines, act on specific systems. Vaccines are sometimes considered drugs. Drugs may protect against attacking organisms (by killing them, stopping them from reproducing, or blocking their effects on the host), substitute for a missing or defective substance in the body, or interrupt an abnormal process. A drug must bind with receptors in or on cells and cannot work if the receptors are absent or its configuration does not fit theirs. Drugs may be given by mouth, by injection, by inhalation, rectally, or through the skin. The oldest existing catalogue of drugs is a stone tablet from ancient Babylonia (c. 1700 BC); the modern drug era began when antibiotics were discovered in 1928. Synthetic versions of natural drugs led to design of drugs based on chemical structure. Drugs must be not only effective but safe; side effects can range from minor to dangerous (see drug poisoning). Many illegal drugs also have medical uses (see cocaine; heroin; drug addiction). See also drug resistance; pharmacology; pharmacy.

drug

1. any synthetic, semisynthetic, or natural chemical substance used in the treatment, prevention, or diagnosis of disease, or for other medical reasons

2. a chemical substance, esp a narcotic, taken for the pleasant effects it produces

3. drug on the market a commodity available in excess of the demands of the market

drug [drəg]

(pharmacology)

Any substance used internally or externally as a medicine for the treatment, cure, or prevention of a disease.

A narcotic preparation.

Drug

principle of evil. [Zoroastrianism: Leach, 325]

See : Evil

Mentioned in	?		References in periodicals archive	?		Encyclopedia browser	?		Full browser	?
No references found	Most of the people preferred natural acne remedy rather than over-the-counter drugs or antibiotics. Natural Acne Remedy - Discover the Benefits by 10acne.com - / Health care industry community Tanton firmly believes that avoiding prescription and over-the-counter drugs is crucial to delaying the aging process and maintaining health, and encourages drug-free solutions to physical and mental problems. Antidepressants, Antipsychotics, and Stimulants by Taylor, John / MBR Bookwatch Chapters discuss the value of learning lessons from adversity and even failure; how to build upon education and knowledge as a foundation for success; the importance of being wary of and informed about drugs--not only illegal drugs but also over-the-counter drugs, prescription drugs, and alcohol; special concerns in preparing for college life; and much more. Do You Have the Mind Power to Live Efficiency? by Burroughs, John / Reviewer's Bookwatch	ovarian insufficiency ovariectomy ovariole Ovary ovate ovation Ovcharov, Georgi Ovchina-Obolenskii-Telepnev, Ivan Ovchina-Obolenskii-Telepnev, Ivan Fedorovich Ovchinnikov, Andrei Ovchinnikov, Andrei Afanasevich Ovchinnikov, Iurii Ovchinnikov, Iurii Anatolevich Ovchinnikov, Lev Ovchinnikov, Lev Nikolaevich Ovechkin, Valentin Ovechkin, Valentin Vladimirovich oven ovenbird ovendry wood over over a map over a set Over There over-the-counter Over-the-counter drugs over-the-counter market over-the-horizon propagation over-the-horizon radar over-tone overaging overall overall dimension overall drilling time overall efficiency overall plate efficiency overall response overall stability constant overarching weight overarm overbank deposit overbank stage overbanking Overbeck, Johann Friedrich overbending Overbite overbreak overbunching overburden overburdened stream Overbury, Sir Thomas	Over-The-Air Activation Teleservice Over-The-Air Distribution Over-The-Air Download Over-The-Air Function Over-The-Air Initialization Over-The-Air Management Over-the-Air Parameter Administration Over-the-air programming Over-the-Air Programming Teleservice Over-The-Air Radio Service Software Over-The-Air Reception Device Over-The-Air Rekey/ing Over-the-Air Reprogramming Over-the-air service provisioning Over-The-Air-Monitor Over-The-Board over-the-counter over-the-counter over-the-counter over-the-counter over-the-counter Over-the-counter (finance) Over-the-counter (finance) Over-the-counter (finance) over-the-counter (OTC) Over-the-Counter Bulletin Board Over-the-Counter Derivative Over-The-Counter Derivatives Instruments over-the-counter drug over-the-counter drug Over-the-counter drugs Over-the-Counter Foreign Exchange over-the-counter market over-the-counter market over-the-counter market over-the-counter market over-the-counter market Over-the-Counter Markets Over-the-Counter Markets Over-the-Counter Markets Over-the-counter medication Over-the-counter medication over-the-counter medicine Over-the-Counter Option Over-the-Counter Options Over-the-Counter Securities Over-the-Counter Securities Over-the-Counter Securities Over-the-Counter Security Over-the-Counter Security Over-the-Counter Security Over-The-Counter Sleeping Aids over-the-counter stock over-the-counter stock over-the-counter stock Over-the-Counter Stocks Over-the-Counter Stocks Over-the-Counter Stocks Over-the-counter substance Over-the-counter substance Over-the-counter trading

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No references found

Most of the people preferred natural acne remedy rather than over-the-counter drugs or antibiotics.

Natural Acne Remedy - Discover the Benefits by 10acne.com - / Health care industry community

Tanton firmly believes that avoiding prescription and over-the-counter drugs is crucial to delaying the aging process and maintaining health, and encourages drug-free solutions to physical and mental problems.

Antidepressants, Antipsychotics, and Stimulants by Taylor, John / MBR Bookwatch

Chapters discuss the value of learning lessons from adversity and even failure; how to build upon education and knowledge as a foundation for success; the importance of being wary of and informed about drugs--not only illegal drugs but also over-the-counter drugs, prescription drugs, and alcohol; special concerns in preparing for college life; and much more.

Do You Have the Mind Power to Live Efficiency? by Burroughs, John / Reviewer's Bookwatch

ovarian insufficiency

Ovchina-Obolenskii-Telepnev, Ivan

Ovchina-Obolenskii-Telepnev, Ivan Fedorovich

Ovchinnikov, Andrei

Ovchinnikov, Andrei Afanasevich