Pharmacology Intro

Pharmacology: The study of drugs (chemicals) and their interactions with living organisms.

Understand the terminology related to drug naming: generic name, official name, chemical name, and trade name.
Analyze advantages and disadvantages of various drug administration routes.
Describe essential information to be found on medication sources and examples of origins (animal, mineral, plant, synthetic, chemical).
Discuss the benefits of inhalation route for pulmonary drug effects compared to oral or parenteral routes.
Explain factors affecting drug levels in the body: absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination.
Define "receptor" and explain the "lock and key" theory in drug interaction.
Clarify terms related to biological activity and drug interactions.

Pharmacy: Preparation and dispensing of drugs.
Pharmacognosy: Identification of drug sources from plants and animals.
Pharmacogenetics: Study of genetic differences and their effects on drug responses.
Therapeutics: The art of treating disease with drugs.
Toxicology: Study of toxic substances and their pharmacologic effects.

Manufacturers choose drug names for marketing to entice sales, avoiding names that imply medical claims or resemble existing drugs to prevent patient risk.

Chemical Name: Detailed chemical structure description.
Generic Name: Assigned when the drug shows effectiveness and is intended for marketing.
Official Name: Often the same as the generic name.
Trade/Brand Name: Name given by the manufacturer for marketing purposes.

Origins: Animal, plant, mineral, and primarily chemical synthesis in modern pharmacology.

Includes: Patient's name, address, birth date, date of prescription, drug name, quantity, directions for pharmacist, patient instructions, prescriber details, and DEA#.
Parts of a Prescription: 1. Patient info; 2. Rx (directions); 3. Inscription (drug details); 4. Subscription (pharmacist instructions); 5. Sig (directions for patient); 6. Prescriber’s signature.

Protects human subjects during clinical trials and oversees clinical research.
Involves parties such as product sponsors, Institutional Review Boards (IRB), and clinical investigators.

USP-NF: Official standards for drugs marketed in the US, includes medication info and dietary supplements.
Physician’s Desk Reference: Contains manufacturer data on drug effects, side effects, and warnings.

Drug Administration: Routes of drug introduction to the body.
Pharmacokinetic Phase: Drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, elimination.
Pharmacodynamic Phase: Interaction between drug and receptor to produce physiological effects.

Gastrointestinal factors such as gastric emptying and first-pass metabolism can affect the bioavailability and onset of action of drugs.

Most of the drug’s activity may be terminated in the liver before reaching systemic circulation.
Routes avoiding first-pass effect include injection, buccal, sublingual, transdermal, and rectal methods.

Focuses on drug effects on the body, emphasizing how drugs may modify physiological processes.

Lock and key effect with receptor interactions.
Agonists mimic effects of natural substances, while antagonists block these effects.

Side Effects: Secondary effects not intended therapeutically.
Adverse Effects: Harmful unintended effects, often serious.
Importance of monitoring cardiac and vascular effects when using respiratory medications.

Potency: A lower ED50 indicates a more potent drug.
Maximal Effect: Refers to the greatest therapeutic response obtainable with a drug.
Lethal Dose 50 (LD50): Toxicity level causing death in 50% of population.