EPHARMA2Y

Pharmacology

The study of drugs, including their sources, composition, properties, actions, and effects on living organisms. It encompasses how drugs are taken, how they act, how the body responds, and how drugs are eliminated.

Pharmacologist

A professional who researches and develops new medicines, improves the understanding of how medicines work, and ensures their effective and safe use.

Pharmacokinetics

Studies what the body does to the drug (ADME: absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion).

Pharmacodynamics

Studies what the drug does to the body (mechanism of action, effects on body systems, therapeutic and toxic effects).

Pharmacotherapeutics

Focuses on the use of drugs in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases.

Toxicology

The study of the harmful effects of drugs, chemicals, and poisons on living organisms.

Clinical Pharmacology

The application of pharmacology in patient care, including drug trials and monitoring therapeutic drug levels.

Chemotherapy

Deals with the use of drugs to destroy or inhibit the growth of infectious organisms or cancer cells.

Pharmacognosy

The study of medicinal drugs derived from natural sources (plants, animals, minerals).

Pharmacy

The science of preparing, compounding, dispensing, and reviewing drugs, and providing clinical services.

Pharmacoeconomics

The study of cost-effectiveness and economic impact of drugs on healthcare systems and patient outcomes.

Posology

The study of drug dosages and how they vary based on patient factors (age, weight, condition).

Medicine

Deals with the maintenance of health and the prevention, alleviation, or cure of disease.

Drug

A substance that affects how a body works; can be helpful, harmful, legal, illegal, harmless, or dangerous.

Ancient Medicine

Prehistoric: Illness attributed to evil spirits; trepanation used.

Ancient China

Acupuncture, herbal medicine, Yin and Yang concepts.

Ancient Greece

Hippocrates promoted observation, diagnosis, and ethics (Hippocratic Oath).

Medieval Medicine

Use of herbal medicine. Monasteries preserved medical knowledge.

Renaissance Medicine

Revival of learning and scientific inquiry. Andreas Vesalius published De Humani Corporis Fabrica.

18th-19th Century Medicine

Advances in anatomy, microbiology, and pharmacology. Edward Jenner developed the smallpox vaccine (1796).

20th Century Modern Medicine

Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin (1928). Development of vaccines for polio, measles, etc.

21st Century Medicine

Focus on personalized medicine, biotechnology, gene therapy, and advanced diagnostics.

Pre-Colonial Period in Philippines

Folk medicine was primary healthcare.

Folk medicine

Primary healthcare in the Pre-Colonial Period, involving treatments attributed to evil spirits, taboos, or displeasure of deities.

Babaylans, albularyos, and herbolarios

Healers in the Pre-Colonial Philippines who provided healthcare.

Hilot

A form of massage therapy used in traditional healing.

Plant Source

Sources of drugs such as Morphine, Atropine, Quinine, and Lagundi.

Animal Source

Sources of drugs including Insulin, Heparin, and Cod liver oil.

Mineral Source

Sources of drugs like Iron, Magnesium sulfate, Sodium chloride, and Calcium carbonate.

Synthetic Source

Laboratory-created drugs such as Paracetamol, Aspirin, Sulfonamides, and Omeprazole.

Semi-synthetic Source

Drugs derived from natural sources but modified, including Amoxicillin and Heroin.

Microorganism Source

Drugs produced from microorganisms, such as Penicillin and Streptomycin.

Biotechnology/Genetic Engineering

Production of drugs such as Recombinant insulin, Monoclonal antibodies, and Vaccines.

FDA

Food & Drug Administration, which ensures the safety, efficacy, and security of drugs and biological products.

GCP

Good Clinical Practice guidelines followed in drug development.

Drug Discovery & Development Process

A lengthy process taking 10-15 years to bring a drug to market.

Phase I (IND - Investigational New Drug)

First in Human Studies involving 20-100 healthy volunteers to evaluate safety.

Phase II

Involves 100-300 patients for dose optimization and further evaluation of safety and effectiveness.

Phase III

Pivotal trials involving 1000-5000 patients to confirm effectiveness and monitor side effects.

Phase IV (Post-Marketing Surveillance)

Conducted after a drug is marketed to gather information on long-term effects.

Respect for Persons

Core ethical principle emphasizing autonomy and the right to refuse treatment.

Informed Consent

Mutual sharing of information between researchers and participants.

Beneficence

The duty to protect research subjects from harm.

Risk-Benefit Ratio

The balance between risks and anticipated benefits in research.

Justice

Fair selection of research subjects and equal distribution of benefits and burdens.

Republic Act 8423

Traditional & Alternative Medicine Act of 1997 aimed at integrating traditional medicine into the healthcare system.

Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care (PITAHC)

Government agency responsible for developing and regulating traditional health care practices.

Herbal Medicines

Use of plants or plant derivatives for treating specific conditions, regulated by the FDA as food supplements.

Republic Act 6425

The Dangerous Drug Act, which punishes the sale and distribution of prohibited drugs.

Republic Act No. 10747

Rare Diseases Act of the Philippines addressing the needs of persons with rare diseases.

Orphan drug

A drug used to treat or alleviate symptoms of rare diseases.

Prescribed Drugs

Require a prescription due to potential harm if not used under supervision.

Republic Act 6675

Requires drugs to be prescribed by generic name.

Republic Act 5921 (The Pharmacy Act)

Governs prescription requirements including prescriber and patient information.

Prescription requirements

Include prescriber's name and address, patient's name, address, age, gender, date of prescription, superscription (Rx), inscription (drug name, strength/dosage form, quantity), directions for use, physician's signature and license number, and professional tax receipt number.

Nurse Practice Acts

Govern nursing practice, including drug administration.

Over-the-Counter Drugs (OTC)

Safe for use without direct supervision, no prescription needed, and proper labeling required.

Controlled Substances Act of 1970 (CSA)

Remedies drug abuse through drug education, enforcement authority, treatment facilities, and designation of schedules.

Schedule I

High abuse potential, no accepted medical use (e.g., Heroin, LSD, Marijuana).

Schedule II

High abuse potential, but with accepted medical use (e.g., Cocaine, Methamphetamine, Fentanyl, Oxycodone).

Schedule III

Moderate to low abuse potential (e.g., Ketamine, Anabolic steroids, Products containing less than 90mg of codeine per dosage unit).

Schedule IV

Low abuse potential (e.g., Xanax, Ativan, Valium, Tramadol).

Schedule V

Lower abuse potential than Schedule IV, limited quantities of certain narcotics (e.g., Cough preparations with less than 200mg of codeine per 100ml, Lomotil).

Nursing Responsibilities (Controlled Substances)

Include accounting for all controlled drugs, keeping special records, countersigning discarded medications, ensuring records match, locking up controlled drugs, and ensuring authorized access.

FDA Pregnancy Categories Update 2020

PLLR replaced A, B, C, D, and X risk categories with new label sections for specific populations.

Pregnancy subsection

Includes information on dosing, potential risks, and registry information.

Lactation subsection

Includes information on drug use during breastfeeding and effects on the infant.

Females and Males of Reproductive Potential subsection

Includes information on pregnancy testing, birth control, and effects on fertility.

Therapeutic Classification

Groups drugs based on clinical use or desired therapeutic effect.

Pharmacologic Classification

Groups drugs based on mechanism of action, biochemical effects, or physical effects on the body.

Chemical Name

Describes the drug's chemical structure and composition.

Generic Name

Official, non-proprietary name (e.g., furosemide).

Brand (Trade) Name

Proprietary name chosen by the drug company (e.g., Lasix).

Processes (LADME)

Include Liberation, Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion.

Liberation

Release of the drug from its dosage form.

Absorption

Movement of the drug into the bloodstream after administration.

Enteral route (oral)

80% of drugs.

Factors affecting absorption

Drug form, route, gastric mucosa & motility, food & other drugs, liver metabolism.

Drugs in liquid form

Absorb faster.

Acidic fluids

Promote faster disintegration and absorption.

Enteric-coated (EC) drugs

Resist disintegration in the stomach.

Passive Transport

Diffusion and Facilitated diffusion.

Active Transport

Requires energy and a carrier (enzyme or protein).

Pinocytosis

Cells engulf drug particles.

First-Pass Effect

Some drugs are metabolized to an inactive form in the liver, reducing the amount of active drug available.

Bioavailability

Percentage of administered drug available for activity (reaches systemic circulation).

IV drugs

100% bioavailability.

Distribution

Movement of the drug from the circulation to body tissues.

Influenced by

Vascular permeability, blood flow, cardiac output, tissue perfusion, protein binding, and lipid solubility.

Protein Binding

Some drugs bind with plasma proteins (e.g., albumin).

Highly protein-bound drugs

90%.

Weakly protein-bound drugs

Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB)

Protects the brain from foreign substances.

Placental Barrier

Drugs can cross the placenta (teratogenic effect).

Breast Milk

Drugs can pass into breast milk.

Metabolism (Biotransformation)

Body chemically changes drugs into a form that can be excreted (primarily in the liver).

Liver enzymes

Cytochrome P450 system or CYPs.

Prodrugs

Metabolized into an active pharmacologic substance.

Drug Half-Life (t1/2)

Time it takes for the amount of drug in the body to be reduced by half.

Plateau Drug Level

Steady state (amount of drug administered = amount of drug eliminated).