Medication to Treat Diseases and Conditions
Tampa General Hospital offers a wide array of medications designed to treat disease and improve the health of our patients.
Medications can be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease, and drug therapy is a crucial part of the medical field. The science of pharmacology provides continuing advancement of medications, and pharmacies manage the distribution of these medications.
Medications are classified in many different ways, with the most common being:
- Prescription, or drugs that a pharmacist will only dispense on the order of a qualified medical professional
- Over the counter (OTC), or drugs that patients can order for themselves
They can also be classified based on their therapeutic effects. Some common examples include:
- Antibiotics
- Analgesics
- Antiseptics
- Hormone replacements
- Mood stabilizers
- Stimulants
- Tranquilizers
- Statins
Medications can enter the body through a variety of ways, including the mouth, nose, ears, vagina or rectum. They can also be applied to the skin, injected under the skin or fed directly into the stomach or intestines through a tube.
What Conditions Can Be Treated With Medication?
Medication can be used to treat conditions affecting all parts of the body, including the:
- Digestive system
- Cardiovascular system
- Central nervous system
- Respiratory system
- Reproductive system
- Immune system
They can also be used for:
- Pain
- The skin
- Musculoskeletal disorders
- Contraception
- Obstetrics and gynecology
- Infections
- Allergic disorders
- Nutrition
- Diagnostics
Medication Guidelines
You have a right to know what medications are being prescribed to you, and it’s important to know the names of your medications, why they are being prescribed and their dosages. It is important that you take your medications as prescribed and don’t stop them early or decrease the dosage to save money.
However, you should always tell your doctor if you have any allergies and know about any potential side effects your medications can cause. If you experience abnormal side effects from a medication, you should call your doctor immediately.
To ensure that your medications do their job effectively, you can:
- Develop a routine for taking your medications and consider using a pill box that is marked with the days of the week to avoid confusion
- Keep a log book to document when you’ve taken your medication
- Call the pharmacy or doctor’s office at least one week before you need a prescription refilled
Additionally, your body might start to respond to medications differently over time, so adjustments might need to be made.