Chapter 3: Introduction to basic
pharmacology and other common therapies
Pharmacology -
DEF: the study of drugs and their actions in/on living organisms
pharmakodynamics
pharmakokinetics
pharmakotherapuetics
Integrated medical science involving chemistry, biochemistry, anatomy, physiology,
microbiology, and more
Study of drugs, their actions, dosage, therapeutic uses, adverse effects
Drug therapy is directly linked to the pathophysiology of a particular disease.
Drugs may come from natural sources.
Plants, animals, microorganisms
Drugs also may be synthesized.
Drugs -
-Promote healing
-Anti-inflammatory
-Cure disease
-Antibacterial
-Control or slow progress of a disease
-Cancer chemotherapy
-Prevent disease
-Vaccine
-Alter neurotransmission
Antidepressants
-Decrease risk of complications
Anticoagulants
-Increase function and comfort
Analgesics for pain
-Provide replacement therapy
Insulin
-Reduce excessive activity in the body
Proton pump inhibitors
Disciplines of Pharmacology -
Pharmacodynamics
Pharmacokinetics
Pharmacotherapeutics
Toxicology
Pharmacy
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, Drug Effects -
-Therapeutic (desired) action may be:
Stimulating or inhibiting cell function
Blocking biochemical actions in tissues
-Classification
Grouped by their primary pharmacologic action and effect
-Indications
Approved for uses to treat conditions for which the drug has been proved to be effective
-Generally, drugs possess more than one effect on the body.
Contraindications
-Circumstances under which a drug should not be administered
-Side effects
Mild, undesirable effects of a drug, even at recommended dose
-Adverse or toxic effects
Drug effects that are dangerous, cause significant tissue damage, or are life-threatening
Specific Adverse Drug Effects -
Hypersensitivity
Idiosyncratic Reactions
Iatrogenic
Teratogenic
interactions
Hypersensitivity -
allergic reactions
reactions may be mild/ can be result in anaphylaxis
Idiosyncratic reactions -
Unusual responses to a drug
Iatrogenic -
negative drug effect associated with adminstration of drug
teratogenic -
harmful effect on fetus, development, defects
Interactions -
synergism
antagonism
potentiation
synergism -
effect of drug combination may be greater than the sum of the effects of the
individual drugs
antagonism -
combination greatly decreases the effect of each drug
potentiation -
one drug enhances the effect of a second drug
2|Page
pharmacology and other common therapies
Pharmacology -
DEF: the study of drugs and their actions in/on living organisms
pharmakodynamics
pharmakokinetics
pharmakotherapuetics
Integrated medical science involving chemistry, biochemistry, anatomy, physiology,
microbiology, and more
Study of drugs, their actions, dosage, therapeutic uses, adverse effects
Drug therapy is directly linked to the pathophysiology of a particular disease.
Drugs may come from natural sources.
Plants, animals, microorganisms
Drugs also may be synthesized.
Drugs -
-Promote healing
-Anti-inflammatory
-Cure disease
-Antibacterial
-Control or slow progress of a disease
-Cancer chemotherapy
-Prevent disease
-Vaccine
-Alter neurotransmission
Antidepressants
-Decrease risk of complications
Anticoagulants
-Increase function and comfort
Analgesics for pain
-Provide replacement therapy
Insulin
-Reduce excessive activity in the body
Proton pump inhibitors
Disciplines of Pharmacology -
Pharmacodynamics
Pharmacokinetics
Pharmacotherapeutics
Toxicology
Pharmacy
1|Page
, Drug Effects -
-Therapeutic (desired) action may be:
Stimulating or inhibiting cell function
Blocking biochemical actions in tissues
-Classification
Grouped by their primary pharmacologic action and effect
-Indications
Approved for uses to treat conditions for which the drug has been proved to be effective
-Generally, drugs possess more than one effect on the body.
Contraindications
-Circumstances under which a drug should not be administered
-Side effects
Mild, undesirable effects of a drug, even at recommended dose
-Adverse or toxic effects
Drug effects that are dangerous, cause significant tissue damage, or are life-threatening
Specific Adverse Drug Effects -
Hypersensitivity
Idiosyncratic Reactions
Iatrogenic
Teratogenic
interactions
Hypersensitivity -
allergic reactions
reactions may be mild/ can be result in anaphylaxis
Idiosyncratic reactions -
Unusual responses to a drug
Iatrogenic -
negative drug effect associated with adminstration of drug
teratogenic -
harmful effect on fetus, development, defects
Interactions -
synergism
antagonism
potentiation
synergism -
effect of drug combination may be greater than the sum of the effects of the
individual drugs
antagonism -
combination greatly decreases the effect of each drug
potentiation -
one drug enhances the effect of a second drug
2|Page
