Prescription & OTC Medications

Types of Medicines Medicines are drugs that are used to treat or prevent diseases or other conditions. Drugs are substances other than food that change the structure of the body or mind. All medicines are drugs, but not all drugs are medicines. Drugs are effective in treating illness when taken as directed by a physician or according to the label instructions.

Types of Medicines Medicines that treat or prevent illness can be classified into four broad categories: Medicines that help prevent disease Medicines that fight pathogens (germs) Medicines that relieve pain or other symptoms Medicines that manage chronic conditions, help maintain or restore health, and regulate body systems

Preventing Disease 1. Vaccines – a preparation that prevents a person from contracting a disease. They contain weakened or dead pathogens that cause the disease. When injected into your body, the vaccine produces antibodies that fight those pathogens. Your body also produces memory cells that recall how to make these antibodies. Some vaccines provide you with long-lasting protection while others protection fades over time.

Preventing Disease 2. Antitoxins – they help neutralize the effects of toxins produced by certain bacteria. Antitoxins are usually produced by injecting animals with safe amounts of a specific toxin which stimulates the animals immune system to produce antibodies which are used to make an antitoxin.

Fighting Pathogens Antibiotics – a class of drug that destroys disease-causing microorganisms called bacteria. They are effective only against bacteria and will not cure illnesses caused by viruses. They work by killing the harmful bacteria in the body, or by preventing bacteria from reproducing.

Fighting Pathogens Some antibiotics produce side effects; some cause allergic reactions; and they can lose their effectiveness due to the bacteria adapting to the drug use over time.

Fighting Pathogens Bacteria can develop resistance in two ways: When the antibiotic is overused When the patient doesn’t finish the full prescription. If you do not finish taking the full prescription, you may not kill all the bacteria. The remaining bacteria may develop a resistance, or immunity, to the treatment.

Fighting Pathogens 2. Antivirals – These drugs are available to treat some viral illnesses. They suppress the virus, but do not kill it; the person will still have the virus in his or her body. As a result, the person often has symptom-free periods followed by flare-ups when symptoms reappear. Like bacteria, viruses can also develop a resistance to medications.

Fighting Pathogens 3. Antifungals – these drugs suppress or kill fungus cells, such as athlete’s foot and ringworm.

Relieving Pain The most commonly used medicines are analgesics. They are used to treat pain, reduce fever, and fight inflammation (redness, swelling, and pain). They range from mild medicines, such as aspirin, acetaminophen, or ibuprofen to strong narcotics such as morphine and codeine Children who take aspirin are at risk of developing Reye’s syndrome, a potentially life-threatening illness.

Managing Chronic Conditions Some medicines are used to treat chronic conditions. These medicines maintain or restore health and offer people with chronic disease a higher level of wellness.

Managing Chronic Conditions Allergy Medicines Antihistimines reduce allergy symptoms by blocking the chemicals released by the immune system that cause allergic symptoms Epinepherine is used by individuals who know they are allergic to substances that cause severe reactions (e.g., peanuts, bee stings)

Managing Chronic Conditions 2. Body Regulating Medicines Insulin is used by people with diabetes to regulate the amount of sugar in their blood. Asthma sufferers may take medicines every day to control symptoms and prevent attacks. Cardiovascular medicines are taken to regulate blood pressure, normalize irregular heartbeats, or regulate other functions of the cardiovascular system.

Managing Chronic Conditions Antidepressant and Antipsychotic Medicines These medicines can help regulate brain chemistry, or stabilize moods.

Managing Chronic Conditions 4. Cancer Treatment Medicines These medicines can reduce rapid cell growth and help stop the spread of cancer cells. Because these medications can also destroy healthy cells, serious side effects may occur as part of the treatment.

Prescription vs OTC Medicines Prescription medicines are medicines that are dispensed only with the written approval of a licensed physician or nurse-practitioner. Over-the counter (OTC) medicines are medicines you can buy without a doctor’s prescription

Taking Medications Medicines can be delivered to the body in many ways. Factors that determine how a medicine is taken include what the medicine is used for, and how it will most quickly and effectively help a person.

Taking Medications Oral medicines are taken by mouth in the form of tablets, capsules, or liquids. These medicines pass from the digestive system into the bloodstream.

Taking Medications Topical medicines are applied to the skin. Transdermal skin patches also deliver a medicine through the skin.

Taking Medications Inhaled medicines, such as asthma medicines, are delivered in a fine mist or powder. Injected medicines are delivered through a shot, and go directly into the bloodstream.

Reactions to Medications Side effects are reactions to medicines other than the one intended. Some side effects may be mild, but others may be more severe and can even cause death.

Reactions to Medications 2. Medicine interactions can occur when two or more medications are taken together, or when a medication is taken with certain food. The combination may have a different effect than when the medicine is taken alone.

Reactions to Medications Types of medicine interactions include: Additive interaction – occurs when medicines work together in a positive way. Synergistic effect – the interaction of two or more medicines that results in a greater effect than when each medicine is taken alone. One medicine increases the strength of the other c. Antagonistic interaction – occurs when the effect of one medicine is canceled or reduced when taken with another medicine.

Reactions to Medications 3. Tolerance is a condition in which the body becomes used to the effects of a medicine. The body requires increasingly larger doses to produce the same effect. Sometimes a person will experience “reverse tolerance” where the body requires less medicine. Withdrawal occurs when a person stops using a medicine on which he or she has become physiologically dependent. Symptoms of withdrawal can include Nervousness Insomnia Severe headaches Vomiting Chills Cramps

Medicine Misuse & Abuse Medicine misuse involves using a medicine in ways other than the intended use. Failing to follow the instructions on or in the package Giving a prescription medicine to a person for whom it was not prescribed, or taking another persons medicine Taking too much or too little medicine Taking a medicine for a longer or shorter period than prescribed or recommended. Discontinuing use of a medicine with out informing your health care provider Mixing medicines without the knowledge of your health care provider

Medicine Misuse & Abuse Medicine abuse is intentionally taking medications for nonmedical reasons. One danger of medicine misuse or abuse is drug overdose which is a strong, sometimes fatal reaction to taking a large amount of a drug.

Prescription Medicine Abuse Prescription medications are highly beneficial treatments for a variety of health conditions When abused – taken by someone other than the patient for whom it was prescribed, or taken in a manner or dosage other than what was prescribed – they can produce serious adverse health effects, including addiction.

Prescription Medicine Abuse The following three classes of medications are most commonly abused: Opioids CNS depressants Stimulants

Opioids Opioids are analgesic, or pain relieving medications. When properly managed (taken exactly as prescribed) they are safe and rarely cause addiction

Opioids Common compounds of Opioids include: Hydrocodone (Vicodin) Oxycodone (OxyContin) Morphine Fentanyl Codeine Propoxyphene (Darvon) Hydromorphone (Dilaudid) Meperidine (Demerol)

Opioid Abuse Opioids can be taken orally, or the pills crushed and the powder snorted or injected. Snorting or injecting an opioid results in the rapid release of the drug into the bloodstream, exposing the person to high doses and causing overdose reactions.

Opioid Abuse Adverse effects of opioid abuse include: Drowsiness Constipation Depress breathing Death Symptoms of withdrawal include: Restlessness Muscle & bone pain Insomnia Diarrhea Vomiting Cold flashes Involuntary leg movements

CNS Depressants CNS depressants (tranqilizers & sedatives) are medications that slow normal brain function. They are often prescribed to treat anxiety disorders and sleep disorders

CNS Depressants Barbiturates Mebaral & Nembutal 2. Benzodiazepines Valium, Xanax, and ProSom 3. Newer sleep medication Ambien, Sonata, and Lunestra

CNS Depressant Abuse CNS depressants are usually taken orally, sometimes in combination with other drugs to counteract the effects of other licit or illicit drugs (e.g. stimulants)

CNS Depressant Abuse CNS depressants should not be combined with any medication that causes drowsiness, or with alcohol. If combined, they can slow both heart rate and respiration, which could be fatal.

Stimulants Stimulants increase alertness, attention and energy. They also increase blood pressure and heart rate, constrict blood vessels, increase blood glucose, and open up the pathways of the respiratory system.

Stimulants They are prescribed to treat asthma & other respiratory problems, obesity, neurological disorders, ADHD, narcolepsy, and depression.

Stimulants The two classes of stimulants include: Amphetamines Adderall, Dexedrine 2. Methylphenidate Concerta, Ritalin

Stimulant Abuse Stimulants can be taken orally, but some abusers crush the tablet, dissolve them in water, and then inject the mixture (complications can arise because insoluble fillers in the tablets can block small blood vessels)

Stimulant Abuse Abuse can result in: Irregular heartbeat Dangerously high body temperatures Cardiovascular failure Seizures Hostility or paranoia

Dextromethorphan (DXM) DXM is the active ingredient found in OTC cough and cold medications. When taken in recommended doses, these medications are safe and effective.

DXM Abuse DXM is taken orally in excessive amounts. Effects include: Impaired motor function Numbness Nausea/vomiting Increased heart rate Increased blood pressure Brain hypoxia (lack of oxygen to the brain)

Health & Wellness IQ

Over-the-counter and prescription medications cannot be abused like other drugs, such as cocaine or heroin.

Over-the-counter and prescription medications cannot be abused like other drugs, such as cocaine or heroin. False Over-the-counter and prescription medications can be abused like other drugs, and this behavior is known as medication abuse.

Some medications can have different effects depending on whether they are taken with food, alcohol, or other medications.

Some medications can have different effects depending on whether they are taken with food, alcohol, or other medications. True

More people die each year from drug overdose due to the misuse of prescription drugs than from other drug use.

More people die each year from drug overdose due to the misuse of prescription drugs than from other drug use. True

People only suffer serious consequences if they use a drug many times or over a long period of time.

People only suffer serious consequences if they use a drug many times or over a long period of time. False Abusing a drug even once can lead to negative short-term and long-term effects.

People who are addicted to a drug must take larger and larger amounts of it to experience the same effect.

People who are addicted to a drug must take larger and larger amounts of it to experience the same effect. True

People who are addicted to drugs can stop using drugs relatively easily whenever they choose to do so.

People who are addicted to drugs can stop using drugs relatively easily whenever they choose to do so. False People who are addicted to drugs have great difficulty stopping, because they have become psychologically and physically dependent on the drug.

A person’s environment is a risk factor for whether he or she will abuse or become addicted to drugs.

A person’s environment is a risk factor for whether he or she will abuse or become addicted to drugs. True

Drug addiction is a relatively easy problem to treat, as long as the person wants to stop using drugs.

Drug addiction is a relatively easy problem to treat, as long as the person wants to stop using drugs. False Drug addiction is a difficult problem to treat and requires the intervention of professionals. Even after someone stops using drugs, he or she runs the risk of relapsing.

Once you receive a vaccine for a particular disease, you will have lifetime immunity against that disease.

Once you receive a vaccine for a particular disease, you will have lifetime immunity against that disease. It Depends Some vaccines provide long-lasting protection while some vaccines protection fades over time.

Side effects to certain medications may be mild, but some can be more severe, and can even cause death.

Side effects to certain medications may be mild, but some can be more severe, and can even cause death. True