| designer drugs | Drugs designed and synthesised, often for illegal street use, by modification of existing drug structures (e.g., amphetamines). Of special interest are mptp (a reverse ester of meperidine), mda (3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine), and mdma (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine). Many drugs act on the aminergic system, the physiologically active biogenic amines. (12 Dec 1998) |
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| designer oestrogen | An engineered drug that possesses some, but not all, of the actions of oestrogen. Designer oestrogens are selective oestrogen-receptor modulators (SERMs). For example, raloxifene (trade name Evista) is classified as a SERM because it prevents bone loss (like oestrogen) and lowers serum cholesterol (like oestrogen) but (unlike oestrogen) does not stimulate the endometrial lining of the uterus. (12 Dec 1998) |