Where Do Drugs Come From and What Are Their Basic Components?
Traditionally, drugs were derived from natural sources, such as:
- plants
- animals
- minerals.
Today, however, laboratory researchers have used traditional knowledge, along with chemical science, to develop synthetic drug sources. One advantage of chemically developed drugs is that they’re free from the impurities found in natural substances. Also, researchers and drug developers can manipulate the molecular structure of substances such as antibiotics so that a slight change in the chemical structure makes the drug effective against different organisms. The first-, second-, third-, and fourth-generation cephalosporins are an example.
Sowing the seeds of drugs
The earliest drug concoctions from plants used everything: the leaves, roots, bulb, stem, seeds, buds, and blossoms. Subsequently, harmful substances often found their way into the mixture.
Active agents
As the understanding of plants as drug sources became more sophisticated, researchers sought to isolate and intensify active components while avoiding harmful ones. The active components of plants vary in character and effect:
- Alkaloids, the most active components in plants, react with acids to form a salt that’s able to dissolve more readily in body fluids. The names of alkaloids and their salts usually end in “-ine”; examples include atropine, caffeine, and nicotine.
- Glycosides are naturally occurring active components that are found in plants, and have both beneficial and toxic effects. They usually have names that end in “-in”, such as digoxin.
- Gums give products the ability to attract and hold water. Examples include seaweed extractions and seeds with starch.
- Resins, of which the chief source is pine tree sap, commonly act as local irritants or as laxatives and caustic agents.
- Oils, thick and sometimes greasy liquids, are classified as volatile or fixed. Examples of volatile oils, which readily evaporate, include peppermint, spearmint, and juniper. Fixed oils, which aren’t easily evaporated, include castor oil and olive oil.
Online Prescriptions Guide
Whether you need a low dose of antibiotic for a sinus cold or you need to have a daily pill for a more serious illness, you can order online prescriptions to save yourself time, trips and possibly even money too! This may be a quick, easy and convenient option for people who find it difficult to get out to the pharmacy on a regular basis for there medications. With most everything in life there are of course advantages and disadvantages to ordering your prescriptions online and this article is intended to highlight a few key points in this process.
For anyone that cannot easily get out of the house often enough to fill their medications, online prescriptions may be the best route. Once a trustworthy online pharmacy has been located, a few clicks and filling out a one time profile and information questionnaire may be all you need. Generally the profile you may need to fill out will ask you your full name, address, phone number and insurance information. Your doctor may need to fax paperwork to the online pharmacy in order to ensure the appropriate amounts are given, and will usually be taken care of completely between the website and your doctor. These website will let you place your order in advance, enter any insurance information you may have, and then send out your medicine straight to your home in a timely fashion.
The disadvantages of ordering online prescriptions may be minuscule to the benefits of this process, and will not be typical for every customer. Occasionally, mistakes are made and confusion or misunderstandings arise, which may put a delay in your shipment. All though these things are stressful and annoying, they can easily be fixed with a quick phone call to the company you are dealing with. Placing an order a few months in advance may prove to be helpful as it will prevent late medication shipments if a problem does arise. If you feel as if your online pharmacy is not living up to their obligations, you can contact your doctor or other authorized person to look into it for you.
A Controversial Drug
Thalidomide Is Nothing to Fear
Thalidomide has been a controversial drug for over fifty years. In the late 1950′s its antiangiogenic properties cause the deformities in over 12,000 infants around the world. Thalidomide’s initial purpose was to be used as a sedative or sleeping pill. In the years since its release, scientists have found many uses for the drug, including use of its pernicious side effect to inhibit the growth of many cancers. Thalidomide is a highly misunderstood drug with many positive applications. The history of thalidomide’s weaknesses, and strengths, spans over fifty years. Thalidomide was the safer choice than barbiturate sedatives and ironically helpful in relieving morning sickness. Shortly after its release in 1961, thalidomide was link to the deformities around the world, and the sale of thalidomide was stopped worldwide.
In the ensuring years, scientists have continued to explore the characteristics of thalidomide. As scientist began to look for the exact mechanism in thalidomide that was responsible for the birth defects, they would soon discover that thalidomide had numerous uses, and only two side effects. Thalidomide could be used to treat leprosy, soothe pains associated with leprosy. The two side effects experiences from thalidomide have been deformities, and an irreversible tingling sensation in extremities. Thalidomide was the best treatment in relieving pains from arthritis pains to ulcer pains.
Many fear the worst of the drug and do not realize that, every drug has its’ own risks, and every drug label has a warning to pregnant or nursing mothers. It is up to the consumer whether or not to heed the warning, or take a risk. Even with Americans being able to take their own risk, there will be steps taken to minimize the risks.