U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA): Drugs

Drugs include both prescription and over-the-counter medications as well as active pharmaceutical ingredients intended for use in the cure, diagnosis, treatment, mitigation, or prevention of disease. It may be injectible, ingestible, or topical and have beneficial effects on a body without any severe drug interactions. When CDER has reviewed the data on the effects of drugs, and the drug's benefits overshadow its potential risks for the intended consumers, only then the FDA approves that drug. Even when a drug is on the market, the FDA continues to evaluate its safety and effectiveness.