Laudanum be avoided in contemporary medical prescriptions, and the prescriber should dose opium tincture in mL or fractions thereof. If in the prescriber's judgment dosing in drops would be appropriate, it should be borne in mind that in contemporary medicine, there are 20 drops per mL. The differences between Tincture of Opium (Laudanum) and Camphorated Tincture of Opium (Paregoric) are important and should be kept in mind when administering either of these drugs. Care and caution should always be taken in administering doses of Tincture of Opium, such as the use of a dosage syringe or other suitable measurement device, and
Drug their knowledge) arose later and invokes the psychoactive rather than medicinal properties of a substance. A "medication" or "medicine" is a drug taken to cure or ameliorate any symptoms of an illness or medical condition. The use may also be as preventive medicine that has future benefits but does not treat any existing or pre-existing diseases or symptoms. Dispensing of medication is often regulated by governments into three categories—"over-the-counter" medications, which are available in pharmacies and supermarkets without special restrictions; "behind-the-counter" medicines, which are dispensed by a pharmacist without needing a doctor's prescription, and "prescription only medicines", which must be