Introduction to Pharmacy and Pharmaceutics

Definition of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutics

• Pharmacy is the scientific discipline and practice encompassing the discovery, production, preparation, dispensing, reviewing, and monitoring of medications.
• The primary goal of pharmacy is to ensure the safe, effective, and affordable use of medicines.
• Pharmaceutics is the comprehensive process of transforming a new chemical entity into an approved therapeutic agent that is both safe and effective in preventing or treating diseases.

Types of Pharmacy

• Community pharmacies serve patients within their local communities, dispensing prescriptions and offering various pharmacy services.
• Hospital pharmacies provide pharmaceutical services to patients within a hospital setting, including medication dispensing, monitoring, and therapeutic drug management.
• Clinical pharmacy focuses on optimizing medication therapy and preventing medication-related problems through close collaboration with healthcare professionals and patients.
• Industrial pharmacies are involved in the large-scale manufacturing and production of pharmaceutical products.
• Compounding pharmacies specialize in the preparation of customized medications tailored to individual patient needs.
• Veterinary pharmacies provide pharmaceutical services specifically for animals.
• Nuclear pharmacies deal with the production, dispensing, and administration of radioactive pharmaceuticals used for diagnosis and treatment.

Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms

• Pharmaceutical dosage forms are categorized based on the intended route of administration.
• The most common dosage forms include:
  • Oral: Tablets, capsules, powders, elixirs, solutions, and suspensions.
  • Parenteral: Intramuscular (I.M), Intravenous (I.V), and subcutaneous (Subcut).
  • Intra-respiratory: Inhalers.
  • Rectal: Suppositories, enemas, creams, and ointments.
  • Topical: Creams, gels, and ointments.

Medical Prescription

• A medical prescription is an order issued by a qualified healthcare professional to a pharmacist for a medication to be dispensed to a patient.
• Some medical prescriptions utilize Roman numerals instead of Arabic numerals.

Main Abbreviations Used in the Prescriptions

• Abbreviations are commonly used for clarity and brevity in medical prescriptions.
• While the specific abbreviations may vary, some common examples include:
  • "qd" - once daily
  • "bid" - twice a day
  • "tid" - three times a day
  • "qid" - four times a day
  • "ac" - before meals
  • "pc" - after meals
  • "prn" - as needed
  • "stat" - immediately

This quiz covers the definition of pharmacy and pharmaceutics, exploring their roles in medication management and patient care. Learn about different types of pharmacy practices including community, hospital, and clinical settings.