Pharmacology

The word pharmacology is derived from Greek word ‘pharmakon’ meaning poison. The branch of medical and biological science that studies about the action of drugs is referred as pharmacology. Pharmacology also concerns more about interactions that exist in between chemicals and living organisms which may affect the normal function and or abnormal function of biochemicals. If the substance possesses medicinal properties they are referred as pharmaceuticals. It also includes composition of drugs and its properties, interaction of drugs, toxic effect of drugs, treatment, medical benefits and antipathogenic activities. The major branch of pharmacology are divided in to two types namely pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics. The pharmacodynamics is more concerned about the drug effect on biological systems and pharmacokinetics is more concerned about effect of biological systems on drugs.

Pharmacodynamics expresses the interaction of biochemical with receptors in biological systems. Pharmacokinetics defines absorption, metabolism, distribution and excretion of chemicals with the biological systems. The term pharmacology is not synonymous with term pharmacy and is commonly confused terms. Pharmacology explains the interaction of drugs with biological systems, nature of drugs, sources of drugs and along with their properties. On other hand, pharmacy explains the way of preparing the drugs, their dosage and effective use of medicines.

Disciplines of pharmacology

Following are disciplines of pharmacology.

• Clinical pharmacology
• Psycho pharmacology
• Pharmaco genetics
• Pharmaco genomics
• Toxicology
• Posology
• Pharmaco epidemiology
• Neuro pharmacology
• Pharmacognosy
• Theoretical pharmacology
• Behavioral pharmacology
• Environmental pharmacology

The individual who practice pharmacology are referred as pharmacologists. The pharmacokinetic properties of a drug are explained by LADME as follows.

• Liberation: Dispersal, dissolution & disintegration
• Absorption: Drugs are absorbed through intestine, skin & oral mucosa
• Distribution: Means by which drug is distributed
• Metabolism: Whether the drug is active or toxic or medically fit
• Excretion: Elimination of drug through urine, skin, breath &  bile

Questions:

• What is pharmacology?
• What is Posology?
• What is clinical pharmacology?