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Introduction to Pharmacology
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Why should we learn Pharmacology?
A) It is a basic science.
B) It is an applied science.
C) No idea.
Answer:
Definitions of Pharmacology
Science and knowledge of drugs
Relevant to effective and safe use for medicinal purpose.
Dealings with interaction of exogenously administered chemical molecules (drugs) with living systems.
Katzung definitions: study of substances that interact with living systems through chemical processes,
binding to regulatory molecules
activating or inhibiting normal body processes.
The substances chemicals that have
beneficial therapeutic effect or
their toxic effects
Terminology in pharmacology
Medical pharmacology / Clinical pharmacology
Is the science/study of substances used to prevent, diagnose, and treat disease.
Pharmacogenomics (or pharmacogenetics)
study of the genetic variations that cause individual differences in drug response
Toxicology
One of the branch of pharmacology
dealings with the undesirable effects of chemicals on living systems.
Bertram G. Katzung-Basic & Clinical Pharmacology(9th Edition)
Pharmacotherapeutics
Application of pharmacodynamic information together with knowledge of the disease for
Prevention
Mitigation/relieve
Cure
Chemotherapy
Treatment of a disease with specific drugs that have selective toxicity with no or minimal effects on the host cells (patient/recipient)
Example: antibiotic/anticancer drugs
Pharmacodynamics
Dynamis – power
What the drug does to the body
Physiological and biochemical effects of drug
Mechanism of action at macromolecular/subcellular/organ system level
E.g. Adrenaline
Pharmacokinetics
Kinesis – movement
What the body does to the drug
Movements )
Alteration ) of drug
Absorption, distribution, binding/localization/storage/biotrasformation and excretion.
E.g. Digoxin
What is Drugs?
defined as any substance that brings about a change in biologic function through its chemical actions.
the drug molecule interacts with a specific molecule in the biologic system (majority cases)
that plays a regulatory role.
This specific molecule is called a receptor.
The Physical Nature of Drugs
solid at room temperature (eg, aspirin, atropine),
liquid (eg, nicotine, ethanol),
gaseous (eg, nitrous oxide).
Factors determine the choice for drugs administration
Physical and chemical properties of the drug
(eg solid, liquid, gas)
Oral, Intravenous, Intramuscular, subcutaneous
Site of desired action
Localized and approachable eg. Topical application for muscular pain, skin diseases
Generalized and not approachable eg. Systemic infection
Rate and extent of absorption of the drug from different routes
Immediate action via Intraveous/Intramuscular
Slow and prolong action via oral route
Effect of digestive juices and first pass metabolism on the drug
Rapidity with which the response is desired
Routine treatment
Emergency
Accuracy of dosage required
Base on the weight of pt esp in children
Condition of the patient
Conscious / unconscious
Mental disorder
Age etc
Why should we learn Pharmacology?
A) It is a basic science.
B) It is an applied science.
C) No idea.
Answer:
Knowledge of Pharmacology is important to explain the reason of a particular treatment
Eg. Pain
References
Bertram G. Katzung-Basic & Clinical Pharmacology(9th Edition)
Essentials of Medical Pharmacology: Tripathi
Medical Pharmacology at a Glance: Michael J. Neal
Physicians’ Drug Manual 2005 edition: Michael Safani
About the Author
Specialized in Tropical Medicine and Research on men health especially in osteoporosis
