Medication vs. Medicine — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on November 1, 2023
Medication refers to drugs taken to treat or manage a specific illness, while medicine encompasses all substances used for treating or preventing disease.
Difference Between Medication and Medicine
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Medication implies a regulated course of drugs for treating a specific medical condition. Medicine is a broader term that encompasses the science or practice of the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease.
Medication is often prescribed by a healthcare provider and is specific to an individual's condition. Medicine can refer to both the substances used to treat illness and the field of healing arts.
Medications are typically substances given to achieve a therapeutic effect in the treatment or prevention of disease. The term medicine also includes over-the-counter drugs, vaccinations, and other healthcare practices.
Medication is a subset within the broader category of medicine. While all medications are considered a part of medicine, not all aspects of medicine involve medication.
The administration of medication is a practice within the field of medicine, focusing on dosage and regimen. Conversely, medicine not only involves the administration of these substances but also the study and research behind them.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Drugs prescribed for treatment
The science or practice of treating and preventing disease
Scope
Specific to an individual's condition
Broad, includes various forms and practices of healing
Use
Taken by a patient to cure or manage a condition
Encompasses drugs, procedures, and preventive measures
Field
A component of medical treatment
A field of study and professional practice
Regulation
Often requires a prescription
Can be prescription or over-the-counter
Compare with Definitions
Medication
Substance used for medical treatment
She took her medication at 8 AM and PM.
Medicine
Substance or drug for treatment
The cold medicine provided relief from his symptoms.
Medication
A prescribed drug regimen
The doctor adjusted his medication for better control of his symptoms.
Medicine
Medicine as preventive care
Vaccines are a crucial part of preventive medicine.
Medication
Medication as a therapy
Antibiotics are a medication for bacterial infections.
Medicine
Traditional or alternative healing
Herbal medicine has been used for centuries.
Medication
Administered for healing
His medication helped manage the pain post-surgery.
Medicine
Medicine is the science and practice of caring for a patient, managing the diagnosis, prognosis, prevention, treatment, palliation of their injury or disease, and promoting their health. Medicine encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness.
Medication
A medication (also referred to as medicament, medicine, pharmaceutical drug, medicinal drug or simply drug) is a drug used to diagnose, cure, treat, or prevent disease. Drug therapy (pharmacotherapy) is an important part of the medical field and relies on the science of pharmacology for continual advancement and on pharmacy for appropriate management.
Medicine
The science or practice of the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease (in technical use often taken to exclude surgery)
He made distinguished contributions to pathology and medicine
The remarkable achievements of modern medicine
Medication
A drug or other form of medicine that is used to treat or prevent disease
He was given medication for pain
Certain medications can cause dizziness
Medicine
A drug or other preparation for the treatment or prevention of disease
Your doctor will be able to prescribe medicines
Give her some medicine
Medication
A drug or other substance used to treat disease or injury; a medicine.
Medicine
(especially among some North American Indian peoples) a spell, charm, or fetish believed to have healing, protective, or other power
Fleur was murdering him by use of bad medicine
Medication
The act or process of treating a patient with medicine
The response to medication.
Medicine
The science and art of diagnosing and treating disease or injury and maintaining health.
Medication
A medicine, or all the medicines regularly taken by a patient.
Have you been taking your medication? [uncountable]
Have you been taking your medications? [countable]
Medicine
The branch of this science encompassing treatment by drugs, diet, exercise, and other nonsurgical means.
Medication
The administration of medicine.
Such behavior, if it doesn't abate, will necessitate medication and supervision.
Medicine
The practice of medicine.
Medication
The act or process of medicating.
Medicine
A substance, especially a drug, used to treat the signs and symptoms of a disease, condition, or injury.
Medication
(medicine) something that treats or prevents or alleviates the symptoms of disease
Medicine
Something that serves as a remedy or corrective
Medicine for rebuilding the economy.
Measures that were harsh medicine.
Medication
The act of treating with medicines or remedies
Medicine
Shamanistic practices or beliefs, especially among Native Americans.
Medication
Dosage-specific treatment
The pharmacist explained how to correctly take the medication.
Medicine
Something, such as a ritual practice or sacred object, believed to control natural or supernatural powers or serve as a preventive or remedy.
Medicine
A substance which specifically promotes healing when ingested or consumed in some way; a pharmaceutical drug.
This medicine has fewer adverse effects than others in its drug class.
Using a weekly pill organizer is a good way to help remind yourself to take your medicine each day, and it also tells you whether you already took today's pills (it's not unusual to forget doing a habitual task)!
Medicine
Any treatment or cure.
A legislative remedy might be some harsh medicine; is that cure worse than the ill?
Medicine
(uncountable) The study of the cause, diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of disease or illness.
She's studying medicine at university because she wants to be a doctor in the future.
Medicine
(uncountable) The profession and practice of physicians, including surgeons.
The history of medicine can be discretized into eras with differing relationships between physicians and surgeons
Medicine
The profession and practice of nonsurgical physicians as sometimes distinguished from that of surgeons.
The evolving relationship of medicine to surgery in the nineteenth century
Medicine
(uncountable) Ritual magic used, as by a medicine man, to promote a desired outcome in healing, hunting, or warfare; traditional medicine.
Medicine
Among the Native Americans, any object supposed to give control over natural or magical forces, to act as a protective charm, or to cause healing.
Medicine
(obsolete) Black magic, superstition.
Medicine
(obsolete) A philter or love potion.
Medicine
(obsolete) A physician.
Medicine
(slang) Recreational drugs, especially alcoholic drinks.
Medicine
To treat with medicine.
Medicine
The science which relates to the prevention, cure, or alleviation of disease.
Medicine
Any substance administered in the treatment of disease; a remedial agent; a medication; a medicament; a remedy; physic.
By medicine, life may be prolonged.
Medicine
A philter or love potion.
Medicine
A physician.
Medicine
Among the North American Indians, any object supposed to give control over natural or magical forces, to act as a protective charm, or to cause healing; also, magical power itself; the potency which a charm, token, or rite is supposed to exert.
The North American Indian boy usually took as his medicine the first animal of which he dreamed during the long and solitary fast that he observed at puberty.
Medicine
Hence, a similar object or agency among other savages.
Medicine
Short for Medicine man.
Medicine
Intoxicating liquor; drink.
Medicine
To give medicine to; to affect as a medicine does; to remedy; to cure.
Medicine
The branches of medical science that deal with nonsurgical techniques
Medicine
(medicine) something that treats or prevents or alleviates the symptoms of disease
Medicine
The learned profession that is mastered by graduate training in a medical school and that is devoted to preventing or alleviating or curing diseases and injuries;
He studied medicine at Harvard
Medicine
Punishment for one's actions;
You have to face the music
Take your medicine
Medicine
Treat medicinally, treat with medicine
Medicine
Field concerned with healing
She devoted her life to studying medicine.
Medicine
Practice of diagnosing
Good medicine involves careful listening to the patient.
Common Curiosities
Is all medicine in the form of medication?
No, medicine includes medication but also encompasses other forms of treatment and prevention.
What is medication used for?
Medication is used to treat specific illnesses or conditions.
Do all doctors practice medicine?
Yes, practicing medicine is what doctors are trained to do.
What's the difference between natural remedies and medication?
Natural remedies can be part of medicine, while medication is specifically formulated drugs.
Can animals be given medication?
Yes, animals can be prescribed medication for health issues.
Is aspirin a medication or medicine?
Aspirin is both a medication and a form of medicine.
What does over-the-counter medicine mean?
It refers to medicines that can be purchased without a prescription.
Can medication be taken without a doctor's advice?
Over-the-counter medication can, but it’s often best to consult a healthcare provider.
Can medication be bought over the counter?
Some medication can be, but many require a prescription.
What role do pharmacists play in medicine?
Pharmacists are experts in medication management and proper usage.
Is it safe to use expired medication?
Generally, no. Expired medication can be less effective or unsafe.
How does one dispose of unused medicine?
There are specific disposal programs and guidelines for medicine.
Are vaccinations considered medication?
Vaccinations are a preventive form of medicine.
Do all medications have side effects?
Most medications can have side effects, but not everyone will experience them.
Is traditional Chinese medicine the same as medication?
Traditional Chinese medicine is a broad field and can include various forms of treatments, not all of which are considered medication in the Western sense.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
