What type of drug is used to relieve symptoms of a disease?

The term "therapeutic" refers to drugs that are specifically designed to treat and relieve symptoms of a disease. These medications can target the underlying cause of an illness or help alleviate symptoms to improve the patient's quality of life. Therapeutic drugs are essential in managing various health conditions, such as pain relief, reducing inflammation, or combating infections, thereby playing a critical role in patient care.

Other types of drugs mentioned in the question serve different purposes. Prophylactic drugs are used to prevent disease rather than to treat it. Preventive medications aim to stop a disease from occurring, rather than alleviating existing symptoms. Diagnostic drugs are utilized in procedures to diagnose or determine the presence of disease, not to treat symptoms directly. Understanding these distinctions helps clarify why therapeutic drugs are integral to effective patient management and symptom relief.