What is the term for a drug used to treat a disease or condition?

The term “medication” specifically refers to a drug or pharmacological agent that is used to diagnose, cure, mitigate, treat, or prevent disease or health conditions. Medications can come in various forms, such as pills, liquids, injectables, etc., and are generally prescribed or recommended by healthcare professionals to manage patient health needs.

In contrast, antibodies are proteins produced by the immune system to help fight infections and are not classified as drugs in a therapeutic context. A placebo is a substance that has no therapeutic effect, often used in clinical trials to compare the effects of a drug against an inactive treatment. Supplements refer to products that may contain vitamins, minerals, herbs, or other botanicals and are typically used to enhance dietary intake but are not specifically classified as medications. Hence, “medication” is the most accurate choice for describing a drug used specifically to treat a disease or condition.