Medical Term Definition
Medication
A substance or preparation used to prevent, diagnose, treat, control, or relieve a disease, condition, or symptom.
Medications can contain one or more active ingredients and may be supplied in forms such as tablets, capsules, injections, creams, inhalers, or liquids. They can have intended therapeutic effects as well as adverse effects and interactions.
The term is often used broadly for products intended for medical use, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines.
QUICK FACT
A medication is not necessarily a single chemical substance; a finished medication can contain active and inactive ingredients.
COMMONLY CONFUSED WITH
Drug: a broader scientific term for a substance that produces a biological effect and, in medicine, commonly refers to an active substance used for prevention, diagnosis, or treatment.
SEE ALSO
Clinical & Educational Context
Discussed in Health Articles & Guides
Explore how "Medication" is covered across our evidence-based editorial guides:
6 Articles
The Hard Parts of Medicine
These examples do not mean that every supplement must be avoided by everyone taking medication.
The Hard Parts of Medicine
Taking several medicines can be appropriate and even lifesaving, but it can also increase the risk of side effects, harmful interactions, and medication errors.
Medicine without Jargon
Research suggests that immersion during the first stage of labor may: Reduce pain Promote relaxation Increase satisfaction with the birth experience Reduce the use...
Cases & Narratives
There is also an important misconception about over-the-counter (OTC) medicines: being available without a prescription does not mean that a medicine is automatically appropriate...
Unstraight Lines
Not a medication list.
Unstraight Lines
Sleep, pain, illness, medications, stress, nutrition, social circumstances, previous experiences, and individual differences can all influence how a person feels and behaves.
