Pharmacology Overview

These flashcards cover key concepts in pharmacology, including definitions of important terms, drug classification, pharmacokinetics, and drug distribution.

Pharmacology

The study of drugs and their effects on the body.

Pharmacotherapeutics

The area of pharmacology that refers to the use of specific drugs to prevent, treat, or diagnose a disease.

Pharmacokinetics

The study of how the body absorbs, distributes, metabolizes, and eliminates drugs.

Pharmacodynamics

The analysis of what the drug does to the body, including the mechanism by which the drug exerts its effect.

Generic Name

The name typically used in the medical world for a drug.

Trade/Brand Name

The name that people will likely refer to a drug as.

Off-label prescribing

The use of a drug to treat a condition other than that for which it was approved to treat.

Prescription

A legally authorized order for a drug that may only be distributed through a licensed professional.

Over the counter

Drugs that are safe to use without supervision if taken in recommended amounts.

Controlled substances

Drugs that have potential for abuse or dependence.

Dose-Response Curve

Graphical representation of the relationship between the dose of a drug and its pharmacological effect.

Potency

The dose that produces a given response in a specific amplitude; more potent drugs require smaller doses.

Median Effective Dose (ED50)

The dose at which 50% of the population shows a desired effect.

Therapeutic Index

The ratio of the median toxic dose (TD) to the median effective dose (ED); a higher number indicates a safer drug.

Enteral Routes

Routes of drug administration involving the gastrointestinal tract (oral, sublingual, rectal).

Bioavailability

The extent to which a drug reaches systemic circulation, expressed as a percentage.

Volume of Distribution (VOD)

A measurement that estimates the distribution of a drug in the body, calculated as the amount of drug administered divided by the concentration of drug in plasma.

Transdermal

A method of drug delivery where the drug penetrates the skin for slow and controlled release.