Here are some definitions of medical terms used on this web-site, and explanations about some commonly used drugs.  We also have other resourses for use by our visitors. A complete list of the resourses is given here.

Some definitions of medical terms

ADD - Attention deficit disorder - a disorder of the central nervous system giving difficulty of focused concetration on school work and other activities requiering mental attention.

ADHD - Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. A disorder of the sentral nervous system that in addition to concentration problems also imvolves drive to be overactive or to do counterproductive activities.

Anti-oxidant - In an oxidative reaction two components bind to each other and in the binding process there is an electrone transphere from one component to the other. Some toxic chemicals found in the body will bind in this way to components of the body and thus hurt those components. An anti-ocidant prevents such reactions by caching up these dangerous chemicals.

Ayurvedic medicine - an indian medical system having been developed in thousands of years using herbal components, physical techniques, acupuncture-like techiques and dieting principles

Calcium - the mineral that is the most important constituent of the skeleton and also plays an imprtant chemical role in metablolism.

Cardiovascular - everything dealing with the blood circulation

Coronary heart disease - A disease in the blood vessels of the heart is called so. Most commonly used about processes that decrease the circulation in these vessels either gradually or abruptly.

Enzymes - An enzyme is a substance that work as catalysts and allow reactions in the body to take place at body temperatures. Without a catalyst there is not enough thermal energy to let the reaction take place at any significant rate. The cathalyst let the reaction take place in two or more steps that each require much less energy. In the first step the catalyst binds in some way to the reactants and partilally transform them. There may then be more stages where the reactant are transformed step by step. In the final stage the finel products are made and the enzyme release the products. Enzymes are mostly protein molecules. There is however often  a special part of the enzyme, callec co-enxyme, that is of another type chemiclly. The main proteine molecul is usually the binding site, and the co-enzyme is the working tool that excerts the chemical transformations. Co-enzymes are often vitamine molecules combined with aome mineral.

GABA (gama amino butyric acid) - GABA is a neurotransmitter in the central nervous system.  It is essential for regulating brain metabolism. Defects of GABA concentration is an element in diseases as anxiety, stress, depression, epilepsy, aging and Parkinson's disease

Hormone - A hormone is a chemical used for long or half-long distance transmission of  signals in the body. A hormone is very nearly related to a neurotransmitter, and some substances may act both as hormons and neurotransmitters.

Lecitine - a fatty substance also containing phosfate and some not-fat components. Lecitine is a building block of cell membrans and other cell structures.

Magnesium - a mineral that  plays an important chemical role in metabolism.

Menopause - This is the process of ceasing menstruation when a women get to her middle ages.

Metabolism - This is all the chemical reactions taking place in the body that give the body energy, renovate the body from unneccessary or vaste chemicals, or produce elements to build up or repair the bodily structure.

Minerals - The word denotes basic chemical elements, mostly positive metallic ions. Minerals are often parts of the working tools for the chemical reactions in the body. These chemical reactions take place at low temperatures, and therefore the body need som chemical tools to help the reactions occure. These tools, called enzymes, often consist of two parts - a protein part and a co-enzyme that is the central reactive part of tne enzyme. Minerals are coenzymes or a part of the co-enzyme in many enzymes. Free mineral ions also play a part in many reactions. Some minerals are needed in fairly great amounts, for example calcium, sodium and potassium. Other, clled trace minerals are needed in lesser amount:  Zink, copper, iodine, magnesium, boron, cobalt, iron, manganese, celenium, cilicone. It is not firmely establish what minerals the body really need. Some minerals may have some chemically stabilizing, protecting or catalytic function without being part of any specific reaction chain.

Neurotransmitter - A chemical that transmit a signal from one nerve cell to another.

Osteoporosis - a disorder where the bone tissue looses calcium-containing minerals and as a consequence looses strength and also gets thinner.

Ph - a measure of the acid or alchaline level of the body. The lover Ph, the more acid, the higher, the more alchaline.

Thyroid hormon - The thyroid glands in the neck produce thyroid hormons. The hormone enhances metabolism.

Phentermine (often misspelled phentemine) - This drug is used to help people looseing weight by stimulating the overall bodily activity and thus fat combustion, and by redusing appetite. The drug does this by stimulating the central nervous system (nerves and brain), which also increases the heart rate and blood pressure. Phentermine is usableas as a short-term supplement to diet and exercise in the treatment of obesity to increase the heap of fat in the body.

Serotonine - This is an neurotransmitter abundant in the central nervous system. It is used in transmitting mental processes and in regulating functions of internal organs.

Trace minerals - chemical elements, mostly positive metallic ions needed in microscopic amounts.  Examples are: Zink, copper, iodine, magnesium, boron, cobalt, iron, manganese, celenium, cilicone.

Viagra - This drug has a very spesific effect. It stimulates the mechanisms in and around the penis that give erections. It does not increase sexual drive or lust in any other cute way. It is thus not any aphrodisiac and does not increase sexual ecstacy in any other way than a good erection would do anyhow.

Vitamins - Vitamins are parts of the working tools for the chemical reactions in the body. These chemical reactions take place at low temperatures, and therefore the body need som chemical tools to help the reactions occure. These tools, called enzymes, often consist of two parts - a protein part and a co-enzyme that is the central reactive part of tne enzyme. Vitamins are coenzymes in many enzymes.

Explanations about some commonly used drugs

Carisoprodol - Carisoprodol is a skeletal muscle relaxant whose active metabolite is meprobamate. Although several case reports have shown that carisoprodol has abuse potential, it continues to be widely prescribed (except in the United Kingdom where use of benzodiazepines is preferred). Carisoprodol is a colorless, crystalline powder, having a mild, characteristic odor and a bitter taste. It is slightly soluble in water and freely soluble in alcohol, chloroform and acetone. Its solubility is practically independent of pH. It is marketed in the United States under the brand name Soma, and in the United Kingdom and other countries under the brand name Carisoma.

Acyclovir - Aciclovir or acyclovir, chemical name acycloguanosine, is a guanine analogue antiviral drug, marketed under trade names such as Zovirax and Zovir (GSK). One of the most commonly-used antiviral drugs, it is primarily used for the treatment of herpes simplex virus infections, as well as in the treatment of herpes zoster (shingles). Aciclovir was seen as the start of a new era in antiviral therapy, as it is extremely selective and low in cytotoxicity. Pharmacologist Gertrude B. Elion was awarded the 1988 Nobel Prize in Medicine, partly for the development of aciclovir.

Acetominophen or paracetamol - Paracetamol is a common drug used against pain and fever (analgesic and antipyretic), for example for the relief of headaches and other minor aches and pains. Paracetamol is also useful in managing more severe pain, allowing lower dosages of additional non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or opioid analgesics to be used, thereby minimizing overall side-effects. It is a major ingredient in numerous cold and flu medications, as well as many prescription analgesics. It is considered safe for human use in recommended doses, but because of its wide availability, deliberate or accidental overdoses are fairly common.

Common brand names for the drug include Tylenol and Panadol. See List of paracetamol brand names for more.

Methamphetamine or meth - This drug in its dextro-variant stimulate the allertness and psychological mechanisms related to active actions and problem solving. It also strongly stimulate euphoric feelings of feelings of being high. the stimulation is effected by entering the brain and by triggering a cascading release of norepinephrine, dopamine and serotonin.  

It stimulates physiological changes in the body that support active action  by mimicking the action of transmitter substances in the sympatetic nerve system.

The drug is higly addictive. Withdrawel symptoms are excessive sleeping, eating, and major depression, often accompanied by anxiety and drug-craving.

It is a member of the family of phenylethylamines. The levorotary (R-isomer) levomethamphetamine is  used in inhalers to alleviate nasal nasal congestion and does not possess the CNS activity of dextro- methamphetamine.

Tramadol - Tramadol is an atypical opioid which is a centrally acting analgesic, used for treating moderate to severe pain. It is a synthetic agent, as a 4-phenyl-piperidine analogue of codeine,[1][2] and appears to have actions on the GABAergic, noradrenergic and serotonergic systems. Tramadol was developed by the German pharmaceutical company Grünenthal GmbH and marketed under the trade name Tramal. Grünenthal has also cross licensed the drug to many other pharmaceutical companies that market it under various names, some of which are listed below.

Tramadol is usually marketed as the hydrochloride salt (tramadol hydrochloride) and is available in both injectable (intravenous and/or intramuscular) and oral preparations (e.g. Zydol in UK, Ultram in U.S., Zytrim in Spain and Canada, and Calmador in Argentina). It is also available in conjunction with paracetamol (acetaminophen) as Ultracet or Tramacet.

Dosages vary depending on the degree of pain experienced by the patient. Tramadol is approximately 10% as potent as morphine, when given by the IV/IM route. Oral doses range from 50–400 mg daily, with up to 600 mg daily when given IV/IM. The 'combination' pills each contain 37.5 mg of tramadol and 325 mg of paracetamol, with the recommended dose being one or two pills every four to six hours.

Nicotine - This substance found in plants of the night-shade family is an alcoloid, that is an organic nitrogen compound with basic properties. The nicotine molecule constists of an aromatic ring with 5 carbon atoms and one nitrogen atom and also a connected non-aromatic ring with a nitrogen atom and four carbon atoms.

Nicotine has general stimulating properties upon the nerve system, and at the same time a depressing action on some mental processes. The resultant effect felt is an increased allertness and cognitive agility at the same time as unpleasant nervous tension is reduced.

This combined double action makes nicotine addiction hard to break.

Nicotine stimulates receptors in the deep part of the brains, the ganglions, especially thos that are triggered normally by acetylcholine by mimicking neurotransmittors, especially acetylcholine.  These receptors play a role in maintaining allertness and in mental feelings of well-being. Nicotine also acts at the adrenal medulla.

Nicotine do not have the same long-time detrimental effect on a persons ability to manage life and work as many other addictive drugs, but it hurts the general physical constitution in great extend, causes degeneration and clogging of blood vessels and increases the chance og getting cardiovascular attack and cancers. These bad effects do not only originate from the nicotine itself, but also from other substances in the cigarettes and tobacco, for example tar substances.

After entering the body nicotine is transported quickly through the bloodstream and across the blood-brain-barrier. Allready in seven seconds the substance has reached inside the brain after inhallation. Afer two hours half of the nicotine has disappeared from the body.

Hydrocodone - Hydrocodone or dihydrocodeinone works against pain, alleviats cough and induces sleep analgesic, antitussive and narcotic) It shares its characteristics with many other drugs in chemistry and form; It is an ingrediet in product like: Vicodin, Anexsia, Dicodid, Hycodan (or generically Hydromet), Hycomine, Lorcet, Lortab, Norco, Novahistex, Hydroco, Tussionex, Vicoprofen, Xodol. The substanse is a semi-synthetic opioid derived from two of the naturally occurring opiates, codeine and thebaine. Hydrocodone is an orally active narcotic analgesic and antitussive. Sales and production of this drug have increased significantly in recent years, as have diversion and illicit use. Hydrocodone is commonly available in tablet, capsule and syrup form.

Vicodin - Vicodin is a drug containing Hydrocodone or dihydrocodeinone and acetominophen. It is a selective pain killer commonly seen as a white tablet with the name "Vicodin", "Vicodin ES", or "Vicodin HP" imprinted on one side. 

Orlistat or xenical - Orlistat (marketed under the trade name Xenical by Roche or over-the-counter as alli by GlaxoSmithKline) — also known as tetrahydrolipstatin — is a drug designed to treat obesity.[1] Its primary function is preventing the absorption of fats from the human diet, thereby reducing caloric intake. It is intended for use in conjunction with a physician-supervised reduced-calorie diet.

Orlistat is the saturated derivative of lipstatin — a potent natural inhibitor of pancreatic lipases isolated from the bacterium Streptomyces toxytricini.[2] However, due to simplicity and stability, orlistat rather than lipstatin was developed into an anti-obesity drug

Alprazolam or xanax - Alprazolam is a short-acting drug in the benzodiazepine class used to treat anxiety disorders and as an adjunctive treatment for depression. It is also used as a medication to aid the beginning of treatment with SSRI type drugs, since these can cause anxiety in the initial stages of use.

Alprazolam is used to treat panic disorder, panic attacks, anxiety disorders. It is also used for treatment of depression in combination with other drugs. SSRIs (e.g. sertraline or fluoxetine) are often co-administered with alprazolam at the outset of long-term SSRI anxiety treatment in order to counteract the initial anxiogenic (anxiety-producing) effects of SSRI treatment. Tricyclic antidepressants and buspirone are also used with alprazolam in refractory (resistant) cases of generalized anxiety disorder.  Alprazolam has been used by specialists to treat severe cases of Borderline Personality Disorder.

(This infromation is mostly taken from wikipedia, and it is therefore free to copy and reuse)

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