Pharmacology:
The word pharmacology is derived from
the greek words “pharmacon” means drug and “logos” means study.
It is the study of substances that
interact with living systems through chemical processes, especially by binding
to regulatory molecules and activating or inhabiting normal body processes.
It is the study of biochemical and
physiological aspects of drug effects, including absorption, distribution,
biotransformation (metabolism),elimination (excretion),adverse effects and
mechanism of action.
It is the study of origin, nature,
properties and effects of Drugs on living organisms.
Important branches of pharmacology:
Pharmacokinetics:
It refers to the way how the body
deals with the drug for example absorption, distribution, biotransformation and
elimination. It is a simply the action of body on the drug.
Absorption refers to how the drug
enters the body, which can occur through various routes such as ingestion,
inhalation, or injection. Distribution describes how the drug is transported
throughout the body, including how it is distributed into different tissues and
organs.
Metabolism, also known as
biotransformation, refers to how the drug is broken down by the body's enzymes
into different chemical compounds, which can either be active or inactive.
Excretion is the elimination of the drug and its metabolites from the body,
primarily through urine or feces.
Pharmacokinetics is an important
aspect of drug development and use, as it helps to determine the optimal dosing
and administration of drugs to achieve their therapeutic effects while
minimizing adverse effects.
Pharmacodynamics:
It refers to the way how the drug
alters function of the living cells. It is the study of physiological and
biochemical actions of the drugs and their mechanism of action. It is simply
the action of drug on the body.
Pharmacodynamics encompasses the study
of drug-receptor interactions, signal transduction pathways, and the resulting
physiological responses that lead to therapeutic or adverse effects. This
includes the ways in which drugs modify cellular and organ system functions,
and how these changes affect the body as a whole.
Pharmacodynamics studies are critical
in understanding the therapeutic potential and safety of a drug, as well as the
mechanisms behind drug-drug interactions and drug toxicity. Understanding the
pharmacodynamics of a drug is crucial in the development of new drugs and in
optimizing the use of existing drugs for the treatment of various diseases and
conditions.
Pharmacy:
It refers to the art of preparation,
dispensing an proper utilisation of drugs.
Pharmacists are healthcare
professionals who work in a variety of settings, such as hospitals, community
pharmacies, and research laboratories. They are responsible for ensuring the
safety and efficacy of medications by verifying prescriptions, counseling
patients on the proper use and storage of medications, and monitoring for
adverse drug reactions and drug interactions.
Pharmacists also play a critical role
in the development of new drugs and in conducting clinical trials to determine
the safety and effectiveness of new treatments. They work closely with other
healthcare professionals, such as physicians and nurses, to ensure that
patients receive the best possible care.
Toxicology:
It is the branch of pharmacology that
deals with the undesirable effects of drugs on living systems.
Toxicology covers a wide range of topics, including
environmental toxicology, occupational toxicology, forensic toxicology, and
clinical toxicology. Environmental toxicology focuses on the effects of
pollutants and other chemicals on the environment and wildlife, while
occupational toxicology examines the effects of chemicals on workers in various
industries.
Pharmacognosy:
It involves the identification, extraction, and
characterization of biologically active compounds from natural sources and the
study of their pharmacological properties. The field of pharmacognosy combines
knowledge from a range of disciplines, including botany, chemistry,
pharmacology, and ethnobotany, to discover and develop new drugs and therapies
from natural products.
Pharmacognosy is an important area of research in the
pharmaceutical industry, as natural products have historically been a rich
source of new drugs and continue to offer promising avenues for drug discovery.
Therapeutics:
It is the study of medicines concerned
with the cure of disease or relief of symptoms.
It involves the use of various therapies, such as
drugs, surgery, physical therapy, and psychological interventions, to alleviate
symptoms, cure or control the disease, and improve overall health outcomes.
Therapeutics focuses on the identification of
appropriate treatments for specific diseases or conditions based on scientific
research, clinical trials, and evidence-based medicine. It is a key component
of healthcare and aims to improve patient outcomes by providing effective and
safe treatments tailored to individual patient needs.
Medical pharmacology (pharmacotherapeutics):
The study of substances used to
prevent, diagnose and treat the disease.
It involves the study of how drugs interact with the
body to produce therapeutic effects, as well as the identification of
appropriate drug therapies for specific diseases or conditions based on
scientific research and evidence-based medicine.
Pharmacotherapeutics includes the selection of the
most appropriate drug for a particular patient, the determination of the
optimal dose and duration of treatment, and the monitoring of the patient for
adverse effects and treatment efficacy.
It also involves the study of drug interactions,
pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics to ensure safe and effective use of
medications. Pharmacotherapeutics is an important aspect of modern medicine,
and it plays a key role in the management of various diseases and conditions.
Pharmacogenetics:
Pharmacogenetics is the study of how an individual's
genetic makeup influences their response to drugs. It involves the analysis of
genetic variations that affect the way the body metabolizes and responds to
medications, and the use of this information to optimize drug therapy for
individual patients. Pharmacogenetics aims to personalize drug therapy by
identifying patients who are likely to have a positive or negative response to
a particular drug based on their genetic profile, and adjusting the dosage or
selecting an alternative drug accordingly. It is an important area of research
that has the potential to improve drug efficacy, reduce adverse drug reactions,
and ultimately lead to better patient outcomes.
What is drug?
Drug:
The word drug is dry from a French
word “Drouge” which means dry herbs.
Any substance that, when introduced
into the body, bring about a change in biologic function through its chemical
action.
Any substance used for the purpose of
diagnosis, prevention, curing or relief of a disease is called a drug.
What is prodrug?
Prodrug:
Prodrug is the precursor of drug. It
is a chemical substance that must undergo chemical conversion (bioactivation) by
metabolism within the body to become an active pharmacological agent. Example
of pro drugs include:
- Methyldopa (aldomet)
- Omeprazole (risek)
- Esomeprazole (esomax)
- Lisinopril (zestril)
What is orphan drugs?
Orphan drugs:
Drugs developed for diseases in which
the expected number of patients is small.
What is drugs nomenclature?
Drugs nomenclature:
There are three names for a drug
Chemical name:
It describes the chemical structure of
drug.
Generic or Approved name:
Official name of drug given in the pharmacopoeia.
Trade of brand name:
Name given by pharmaceutical company
that manufactures the drug.
Examples of drug nomenclature:
Nomenclature of paracetamol:
Chemical name: N-acetyl-para-amino-phenol
Generic name: Paracetamol (acetaminophen)
Trade name: Panadol
Nomenclature of aspirin:
Chemical name: Acetylsalicylic acid
Generic name: Aspirin
Trade name: Disprin
What is pharmacopoeia?
Pharmacopoeia:
It is an official code containing a
selected list of drugs and medicinal preparations with description of their
physical properties, tests for their identity, purity and potency.
For examples:
What is BP?
BP: British pharmacopoeia
What is USP?
USP: united states pharmacopoeia
What is PP?
PP: pakistan pharmacopoeia
What is placebo?
Placebo:
It is an inactive preparation of
substance given to satisfy the physiological need of patient for drug therapy.
Such preparations may be in tablet and capsule forms.
Learn more
What is pharmacology?
introduction to pharmacology
general pharmacology
what is General pharmacology?
important branches of pharmacology
Top 8 important branches of
pharmacology
What is pharmacokinetics?
what is pharmacodynamics?
what is therapeutics?
What is pharmacy?
What is toxicology?
What is medical pharmacology?
What is medical pharmacology? Anybody
what is pharmacotherapeutics?
what is pharmacogenetics?
What is nomenclature of drugs?
what is drug?
What is prodrug?
Nomenclature of drugs
3 names for nomenclature of drugs
Chemical name of drug
generic name of drug
trade name of drug
what is pharmacopeia?
what is placebo?
what is placebo effect?
What is BP?
What is USP?
What is PP?
What is orphan drugs?
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