Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment

Drug Therapy

The use of DRUGS to treat a DISEASE or its symptoms. One example is the use of ANTINEOPLASTIC AGENTS to treat CANCER.

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

The use of DRUGS to treat a DISEASE or its symptoms. One example is the use of ANTINEOPLASTIC AGENTS to treat CANCER.

MeSH Record

Classification

MeSH Qualifier

Used as a Subheading

Drug Therapy is also a MeSH subheading (qualifier Q000188), attached to other headings to focus them on this aspect:

Used with disease headings for the treatment of disease by the administration of drugs, chemicals, and antibiotics. For diet therapy and radiotherapy, use specific subheadings. Excludes immunotherapy for which therapy is used.

Qualifier ID
Q000188
Qualifier Tree
Y11.020

Indexing annotation

subhead only; includes treatment or prevention by drugs & chemicals; includes therapy with antibiotics; not for immunotherapy nor for tissue therapy ( = /therapy); see MeSH scope note in Introduction; indexing policy: Manual 19.8.26; DF: /drug ther or /DT

Subheading synonyms

  • chemotherapy
  • pharmacologic therapy
  • pharmacotherapy

Qualifier graph

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Related Concepts

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MeSH Record

See Also

MeSH Record

Synonyms

7 entry terms
  • Chemotherapy
  • Pharmacotherapy
  • Therapy, Drug
  • Chemotherapies
  • Drug Therapies
  • Pharmacotherapies
  • Therapies, Drug

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

13 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings classification, economics, ethics, history, instrumentation, methods, mortality, nursing, psychology, standards, statistics & numerical data, trends, veterinary.

MeSH Record

Indexing Annotation

general only: prefer /drug ther with disease term: Manual 19.7+, 19.8.26; note entry term CHEMOTHERAPY: prefer specific chemical or chemical group, e.g., chemotherapy of lymphoma = LYMPHOMA /drug ther + ANTINEOPLASTIC AGENTS /ther use, not DRUG THERAPY

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Number

  1. E02w.319w

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Drug Therapy. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D004358. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D004358
  2. Drug Therapy. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pharmacotherapy
  3. Drug Therapy. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q701216