Terminologies

Pharmacology

Experimental science dealing with the properties of drugs and their effects on the living system

Pharmacognosy

Study of the sources of drugs

Pharmacodynamics

Study of the action and fate of drugs in the body; Study of the response of an organism to action of drugs in the absence of a disease; Study of the biochemical and physiological effects of drugs and their mechanism of action

Pharmacotherapeutics

Study of use of drugs in the treatment of disease

Toxicology

Study of the poisonous effects of drugs in the body; Study of poison; the science that defines limits of safety of chemical agents to humans and animals

Drug

Came from the French word "Drogue" meaning herb; An article intended to be used in the diagnosis, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease in humans and other animals; Articles other than food intended to affect the structure and function of the body

Therapy

Term describing treatment of disease in general and includes the use of drug, surgery, radiation, behavioral modification, and other modalities

Chemotherapy

Branch of pharmacology dealing with drugs that selectively inhibit or destroy specific agents of disease such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other parasites; Also extended to treatment of neoplastic disease

Pharmacokinetics

The mathematical description of temporal changes in concentration of drugs within the body; The study of the rate processes: absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion

Clinical Pharmacology

Pertains to or founded in actual observation of treatment of patients, as distinguished from theoretical or experimental; The study of drugs in the animal patient

Posology

Study of medicine dosage, which varies with the animal species, intended effect of drug, and individual tolerance or susceptibility

Dose of a drug

The amount necessary to elicit the drug's therapeutic response in patients

Dose

The quantity of medicine to be administered at one time

Dosage

Refers to determination and regulation of a dose

Metrology

Study of weight and measures as applied to preparation and administration of drug

Pharmacy

Concerned with collection, preparation, standardization, and dispensing of drugs

Biopharmaceutics

The interaction between the drug and excipients, formulation and technique of preparation, mixing and packaging of drugs

Materia medica

Concerned with pharmacy, posology, pharmacognosy, and indication for treatment and use of drugs

Pharmacopeia

A book containing tables of drugs including statements of their properties, doses, and standards of strength and purity

Pharmacogenetics

Branch of pharmacology involved in identifying genetic variation leading to individual differences in drug responses; Refers to monogenetic or single gene

Pharmacogenomics

Refers to the entire spectrum of genes involved in determining a patient's response to a particular drug

Nutraceuticals

Nutritional products which allegedly have therapeutic value, in addition to their scientifically recognized nutritional content

Pharmacovigilance

Process of monitoring drug risk and conveying ways to optimize benefit and minimize risks

Adverse Drug Experience (ADE)

Any adverse event associated with the use of a new animal drug, whether or not considered to be drug-related, and whether or not the new animal drug was used in accordance with the approved labeling