Drugs.com is a comprehensive, easy-to-use medication reference that includes warnings, dosage information, and interactions from various drug categories including psychiatric drugs, cancer drugs, antibiotics, and others.
Introduction to Drugs.com
Drugs.com is a comprehensive resource for information on prescription and over-the-counter drugs. The site includes a drug dictionary, drug interactions checker, pill identifier, and a blog. The blog features articles on various topics related to prescription drugs, including how to safely take them, what to expect when taking them, and tips for living with a chronic condition.
Types of Drugs
There are four main types of drugs: prescription, over-the-counter, illegal, and recreational.
Prescription drugs are those that can only be obtained with a doctor’s order. They are regulated by the government to ensure that they are safe and effective. Over-the-counter drugs are available without a prescription, but they are not as heavily regulated. Illegal drugs are those that are not approved for any use by the government. Recreational drugs are those that people use for fun or to get high.
How Drugs Work
A drug is any substance that, when taken into the body, has a biological effect. This can be therapeutic (i.e., it can treat or prevent a disease) or it can be harmful (i.e., it can cause a disease). The term “drug” includes both prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs.
The way a drug works depends on its chemical structure and how that structure interacts with the body. Drugs can work in several ways. They can:
Act on enzymes: Enzymes are proteins that catalyze, or speed up, chemical reactions in the body. Some drugs work by binding to enzymes and either inhibiting their activity or stimulating their activity.
Act on receptors: Receptors are proteins that are located on the surface of cells. They receive signals from other cells and translate those signals into cellular responses. Some drugs work by binding to receptors and either inhibiting their activity or stimulating their activity.
Affect transport proteins: Transport proteins are proteins that help move molecules across cell membranes. Some drugs work by binding to transport proteins and either inhibiting their activity or stimulating their activity.
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Drug Classes
If you’re like most people, when you hear the word “drug” you probably think of illegal substances like marijuana, cocaine, and heroin. But there are actually many different types of drugs, including prescription medications, over-the-counter medicines, and even some herbal remedies.
In this blog section, we’ll take a look at some of the different drug classes and what they include. Prescription drugs are typically divided into six main categories:
- Analgesics (pain relievers)
- Anti-inflammatories (reduce inflammation)
- Antibiotics (fight infection)
- Antiarrhythmics (treat heart rhythm disorders)
- Antidepressants (treat depression)
- antipsychotics (treat mental illness).
Over-the-counter drugs are not as strictly regulated as prescription medications, but they still must meet safety standards set by the FDA. Some common over-the-counter drug classes include:
- Analgesics (pain relievers)
- Antacids (relieve heartburn and indigestion)
- Antiallergics (treat allergies)
- Cough and cold remedies
Drug Side Effects
The Drugs.com blog is a great resource for information on drug side effects. The blog covers a variety of topics related to side effects, including how to avoid them, what to do if you experience them, and how to manage them. The blog also features guest posts from experts in the field, as well as personal stories from people who have experienced side effects.
Conclusion
Drugs.com is a comprehensive resource for prescription drug information, with information on everything from dosage to side effects. If you’re considering taking a new medication, be sure to check out Drugs.com first to make sure you have all the facts.