Morphine is a drug that is used primarily to provide people with pain-relief. It is derived from the opium plant via chemical extraction. It was initially discovered in 1804 and was officially distributed in 1817. When utilized for intended purposes, it is regarded as one of the World Health Organization’s most “Essential Medicines.” Morphine is …
Oxycodone is considered a semi-synthetic opioid drug that is typically prescribed for relief of moderate or severe pain. It was originally created in 1916 as a drug with newer semi-synthetic properties to help improve upon existing opioid treatment options. The drug has been clinically used to treat both acute and chronic pain since 1917, but …
Sugar refers to short-chain carbohydrates that are sweet and used in food. Most people know sugar as a whitish crystal-like powder with a sweet taste that is often added to food. Each year, hundreds of millions of tons of table sugar are produced across the world. The sugar that you eat is scientifically referred to …
Aspartame is an artificial sweetener (non-saccharide) that is often used as a substitute for sugar in drinks such as diet sodas as well as foods like chewing gum. Aspartame was first created under the name NutraSweet in 1965 and is made up of three specific elements: phenylalanine, aspartic acid, and methanol. There is much controversy …
Ritalin (Methylphenidate) is a psychostimulant drug used primarily to help treat ADHD (attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder). It is also prescribed to individuals diagnosed with narcolepsy to help promote wakefulness. This stimulant has been thoroughly researched for over half-a-century and has a great track record for reducing symptoms associated with ADHD including inattentiveness and hyperactivity. This drug …
Prednisone is a synthetic corticosteroid drug that is used to treat a variety of conditions including: asthma, adrenal insufficiency, Cron’s disease, inflammatory diseases, some types of cancer, hives, nephrotic syndrome, lupus, Meniere’s disease, and hives. It is also used to help with organ transplants by preventing bodily rejection to the new organ. This is a …
Lamictal (Lamotrigine) is a drug that is approved for the treatment of epilepsy and bipolar disorder. It works as a sodium channel blocker by inhibiting voltage-sensitive sodium channels. It is also thought to inhibit the release of glutamate at various areas throughout the limbic system. The drug has been found to be neuroprotective and is …