If you have ever had to take a tablet for any reason, you are taking the end product generated from years of research and time spent on developing it.
We take a lot of commonplace drugs for granted - think of paracetamol for example or ibuprofen.
These are both familiar to most of the population, but they are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to drugs of all kinds.
Most conditions or afflictions known to man have at least one form of medication designed to alleviate or get rid of any symptoms that may be experienced.
In some cases those medications will suppress symptoms so the person can live a normal life.
A good example of this is drugs designed to help people who have epilepsy.
If they stop taking the tablets the epilepsy may well reoccur.
If they continue to take the tablets there is a good chance the condition will be well managed.
Generally speaking the world of science tries to find solutions and cures for all the medical conditions we know about.
These can be anything from major to minor ailments and conditions - but the process is just as stringent for every single one, no matter what the focus of the new medication might be.
Whenever a new medication is released for general use - whether it is available on prescription or over the counter - you can be sure that many years of exploration, research and testing have gone into that product.
For example a lot of work will go into finding the right balance of ingredients and elements to a particular drug before it is ever considered for testing on humans.
When this stage is eventually reached it is normally the case that a very tiny proportion of test subjects will be used and monitored as they take the drug.
Further testing and evaluation will be done before the drug is considered for registration.
Put simply, it could be that years of testing are gone through and various stages are completed, and the drug could still be rejected.
This may happen if the regulatory authorities believe the drug is not suitable for general use.
There is no doubt that a lot more work and research goes into the availability of any drug than most of us realise.
Researchers are constantly working towards new drugs for new diseases, and better drugs for diseases we are already trying to eradicate.
Everything from cancer to the common cold is targeted in the hope that future drug development will make life easier and better for many people.
Some drugs are quite literally life savers.
Others just make life better for a while - perhaps while we are fighting off a cold.
It is good to know that in each and every case the same consistent and dedicated path has been trodden to make that drug available to us.