wonder drug
Medical breakthrough treatment
A wonder drug is a medication that seems remarkably effective, especially one that treats conditions previously considered untreatable.
Penicillin was the original wonder drug.
The term often carries skepticism when applied to new treatments: Every few years they announce another wonder drug that turns out to have serious side effects.
Universal cure
- cure-allSupposed universal remedy
- magic bulletIdeal effortless remedy
- silver bulletPerfect single remedy
- elixirMythical healing draught
lifesaver · godsend · miraculous · transformative · extraordinary · phenomenal · breakthrough · game-changer
Pledge beyond capability
- snake oilFraudulent cure-all
- quackeryFraudulent medical practice
- infomercialExtended TV sales broadcast
- sensationalismOverhyped news coverage
buzz · viral · trending · marketing · endorsement · celebrity · fad · gimmick
Bacteria-killing medication
- vaccineDisease prevention injection
- penicillinFungus-derived infection fighter
- aspirinAcetylsalicylic acid tablet
- insulinPancreatic glucose-regulating hormone
statin · antiviral · chemotherapy · immunotherapy · biologic · antidepressant · corticosteroid · analgesic
Temporary disease absence
- recoveryRegaining what was lost
- survivalRemaining alive against odds
- prognosisPredicted disease course
- promiseCommitment to act
potential · relief · improvement · quality of life · second chance · clinical trial · experimental · compassionate use
panacea
Universal cure
- cure-allSupposed universal remedy
- magic bulletIdeal effortless remedy
- silver bulletPerfect single remedy
elixir · lifesaver · godsend · miraculous · transformative · extraordinary · phenomenal · breakthrough · game-changer · marvel
overpromise
Pledge beyond capability
- snake oilFraudulent cure-all
- quackeryFraudulent medical practice
- infomercialExtended TV sales broadcast
sensationalism · buzz · viral · trending · marketing · endorsement · celebrity · fad · gimmick · bandwagon
antibiotic
Bacteria-killing medication
- vaccineDisease prevention injection
- penicillinFungus-derived infection fighter
- aspirinAcetylsalicylic acid tablet
insulin · statin · antiviral · chemotherapy · immunotherapy · biologic · antidepressant · corticosteroid · analgesic · monoclonal antibody
remission
Temporary disease absence
- recoveryRegaining what was lost
- survivalRemaining alive against odds
- prognosisPredicted disease course
promise · potential · relief · improvement · quality of life · second chance · clinical trial · experimental · compassionate use · patient advocacy
- cure-allspanacea, cure-all, nostrum, snake oil, miracle cure
- Patent Medicinesnake oil, cure-all, nostrum, elixir, panacea
- quackerysnake oil, cure-all, miracle cure, panacea, patent medicine
wonder drugpoison
Harmful ingested substance
toxin · dangerous drug · teratogen · carcinogen · thalidomide
wonder drugplacebo
Inactive therapeutic substitute
sugar pill · snake oil · quack medicine · pseudomedicine · nostrum
drug, wonder, wonderful, wondering, wondered, wonderfully, wonders, wondrous, wonderment