How does a medicine differ from a drug?

• A. A medicine is a natural product
• B. A medicine is a formulated product ready for patient use
• C. Medicine and a drug are identical
• D. A medicine is never used in therapy

Answer: (B)

The main idea is that a drug is the active substance that has pharmacological effects, while a medicine is the finished, formulated product that is ready for patient use. A medicine includes the drug plus other components, packaged and labeled as a specific dosage form, and it has been developed, tested, and approved for therapeutic use. This readiness for clinical administration and regulatory approval is what distinguishes a medicine from a drug. The other options aren’t correct because medicines aren’t limited to natural products, and drugs and medicines are not identical; medicines are used in therapy, and a medicine is the prepared product, not just the single active substance.