Pharmaceutical aspects of drugs

Abstract

Drugs can be obtained from many sources such as plants, animals, minerals or microorganisms. However, most drugs are synthetically produced in the laboratory, as they can be produced on a larger scale, in a more cost effective manner and be of higher quality. It is important to know the sources of drugs as patients can develop hypersensitivity reactions to certain drug source. Some patients (based on their religious beliefs) also prefer not to use drugs obtained from bovine or porcine sources. Drug development and trials in animals and humans is a long and costly process. This process is essential to determine that the new drug is safe for human consumption. Drugs should be packaged in a manner that protects the active ingredient from deterioration due to external factors. Drugs should also be labeled with sufficient information to enable the determination of the exact content of the active ingredient, its storage conditions and manufacturing details.