pharmacology

• Pharmacology


  The study of drugs and their actions on the body
• Pharmacology


  • Deals with the study of desirable and undesirable effects of drugs
• Historical trends in pharmacology

  • 5000 years old
  • Western medicine 1m years old
  • Paracelsus - the dose makes the poison
  • Botox - toxin produced by bacteria
• Pharmacokinetics


  What the body does to the drug
• Pharmacodynamics


  What the drug does to the body
• Pharmacotherapeutics


  The study of the use of drugs
• Pharmacy


  Preparing suitable dosage forms
• Toxicology


  Study of toxic effects of drugs to the human body
• Pharmacopoeia


  An official code containing a selected list of established drugs and medicinal preparations
• Drug


  Any substance or product that is used or intended to be used to modify physiological systems or pathological states for the benefit of the recipient
• Sources of drugs


  • Mineral
  • Animal
  • Plant
  • Synthetic
  • Micro-organisms
  • Drugs produced by genetic engineering
• Pharmacologic classification


  Similar characteristics or chemical makeup, e.g. Penicillins, Beta Blockers
• Therapeutic classification


  Used for similar effect, may not have similar chemical makeup, e.g. Antihypertensives, Antibiotics
• Drug development process


  1. Chemistry

  2. Animal pharmacology

  3. Animal toxicity (short/long term)

  4. Studies in humans

  5. Drug authorities

  6. Market

  7. Synthesis & purification

  8. Formulation
• Dose


  The quantity of drug administered at one time
• Dosage


  The amount of the drug that should be given over time
• Drug dosage forms


  • Tablets
  • Capsule
  • Injection
  • Infusion
  • Solution
  • Suspension
  • Cream
  • Aerosol
• Pharmacokinetics


  The study of absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion (ADME) of drugs
• Bioavailability


  The fraction of administered dose of a drug that reaches the systemic circulation in the unchanged form
• MEC (Minimum Effective Concentration)


  The minimum level of drug concentration needed for the desired therapeutic effect to be present
• MSC (Maximum Safe Concentration)


  The maximum level of drug concentration above which toxic effects occur
• MTC (Minimum Toxic Concentration)


  The minimum level of drug concentration that produces toxic effects
• Maximal effect


  Greatest response that can be produced by a drug, above which no further response can be created
• Onset


  How long before a drug is able to exert a therapeutic effect
• Duration


  How long a drug effect lasts
• Pharmacodynamics


  The quantitative study of the biological and therapeutic effects of drugs
• Drug actions


  The cellular processes involved in the drug and cell interaction
• Drug effect


  The physiologic reaction of the body to the drug
• Indication


  A clinical circumstance indicating that the use of a particular intervention would be appropriate
• Contraindication


  Any condition which renders a particular line of treatment improper or undesirable
• Adverse drug reactions


  • Side effect
  • Toxicity - overdose
  • Allergic reaction
  • Physical dependence
  • Carcinogenic effect
• Side effect


  Unavoidable unintended pharmacodynamic effects that occur at a therapeutic dose
• Toxic effects


  Result of excessive pharmacological action of the drug due to overdosage or prolonged use
• Drug intolerance


  Toxic effects of a drug in an individual at therapeutic doses
• Drug tolerance


  Decreased response to the same amount of drug after repeated administration
• Cross tolerance


  Tolerance for a drug that develops after administration of a different drug
• Tachyphylaxis


  Rapidly occurring tolerance to a drug
• Cumulative effect


  Increased effectiveness when a drug is given in several doses
• Drug dependence


  The patient becomes accustomed to the drug's presence in their body
• Idiosyncrasy


  Drug effect unique to an individual, including toxic, allergic, or peculiar reactions