Drug vs Medicine: Drugs and Medicine are not the same things. But frequently we use these terms to indicate the same meaning. However, there is some difference between drug and medicine and these are:
Table of Contents
Drug vs Medicine
The etymology of drug vs medicine
The word “Drug” derived from Greek “Pharmacon” meaning “Drug”. While the word “Medicine” derived from the Latin “Medicus” meaning “healing, or physician”.
Definition of drug vs medicine
A drug is any chemical substance that when acts on the living body alters the physiological process and is used for the prevention, diagnosis, control, and treatment of disease. While medicine is the formulated form of the drug having a definite dose and dosage form which is used for prevention, diagnosis, control, and treatment of disease.
Relation with API
A drug is only active pharmaceutical ingredients (API). While medicine is the formulation of API with excipients or without excipients.
Dosage form and dose
A drug has no suitable dosage form and dose. On the other hand, medicine has a suitable dosage form and dose.
Using Pattern of Drug vs Medicine
Generally, a drug is not used directly for treatment because it needs to be designed suitable dosage form and dose. While medicine is used for treatment directly.
Source of drug vs medicine
Sources of drugs are plants, animals, microorganisms, minerals, synthetic sources, semisynthetic sources, and recombinant DNA technology. While the source of medicine is drugs with or without excipients.
A link between Drug and Medicine
All medicines are drugs. On the other hand, all drugs are not medicines.
Examples of Drug and Medicine
For example, Paracetamol, also known as Acetaminophen (Analgesic and Antipyretic); Morphine (Analgesic); and Ampicillin (Antibiotic) etc. Examples of medicine: Paracetamol tablets, Paracetamol syrup Paracetamol elixir, and Ampicillin tablets etc. You may also read: Difference between Sterile and Pyrogen-free
Summary of drug vs medicine
| Drug | Medicine |
|---|---|
| The word “Drug” is derived from Greek “Pharmacon” meaning “Drug”. | The word “Medicine” is derived from the Latin “Medicus” meaning “healing, or physician”. |
| A Drug is any chemical substance that when acts on the living body alters the physiological process and is used for the prevention, diagnosis, control, and treatment of disease. | Medicine is the formulated form of drug having a definite dose and dosage form which is used for prevention, diagnosis, control, and treatment of disease. |
| A Drug is only active pharmaceutical ingredients (API). | Medicine is the formulation of API with excipients or without excipients. |
| Drug has no appropriate dosage form and dose. | Medicine has an appropriate dosage form and dose. |
| Generally, a drug is not used directly for treatment because it needs to be designed suitable dosage form and dose. | A Medicine is used for treatment directly. |
| The source of drugs are plants, animals, microorganisms, minerals, synthetic sources, semisynthetic sources, and recombinant DNA technology. | The source of Medicine is drugs and excipients. |
| All medicines are drugs. | All drugs are not medicines. |
| For example, Paracetamol, also known as Acetaminophen (Analgesic and Antipyretic); Morphine (Analgesic); Ampicillin (Antibiotic). | For example Paracetamol tablet, Paracetamol syrup, and Paracetamol elixir. |
The below picture depicts drug vs medicine
Viagra is the brand name for a medication known as Cenforce 200mg which has been demonstrated to be powerful for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. Sildenafil is the dynamic fixing and is additionally accessible since 2013 as a nonexclusive medication. The conventional name for Viagra is sildenafil, and Viagra is a brand name. The medication additionally passes by the name of Revatio. Viagra works by hindering the activity of PDE5, a chemical that works in the penis tissues.