Overview of Pharmacology

Definition: Pharmacology is the branch of medicine and biology that studies drug action and how drugs interact with living systems.
Key Aspects: Includes drug properties, mechanisms of action, therapeutic uses, side effects, and toxicity.

Clinical Pharmacology: Focuses on the effects of drugs in humans and their application in treatment.
Experimental Pharmacology: Involves laboratory studies and animal testing for drug effects.
Pharmacokinetics: Study of the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) of drugs.
Pharmacodynamics: Examines how drugs affect biological systems and their mechanisms of action.

By Source:
- Natural (plants, animals)
- Synthetic (chemically manufactured)
- Semi-synthetic (modified natural compounds)
By Therapeutic Use:
- Analgesics (pain relief)
- Antibiotics (infection treatment)
- Antipyretics (fever reduction)
- Antidepressants (mood regulation)
By Mechanism of Action:
- Agonists (activate receptors)
- Antagonists (block receptors)
- Enzyme inhibitors (block enzyme activity)

Drug Discovery: Identifying potential therapeutic compounds.
Preclinical Trials: Testing on animals for safety and efficacy.
Clinical Trials: Phased human testing (Phase I, II, III).
Regulatory Approval: Submitting data to authorities (e.g., FDA).
Post-Marketing Surveillance: Monitoring long-term effects and safety in the general population.

Receptor Interaction: Drugs bind to specific receptors to produce effects.
Dose-Response Relationship: Relationship between drug dose and the magnitude of effect.
Therapeutic Index: Ratio of the toxic dose to the therapeutic dose; indicates safety.

Types:
- Side effects: Unintended effects that are non-harmful.
- Toxic reactions: Harmful effects due to overdose or sensitivity.
- Allergic reactions: Immune response to a drug.

Types:
- Pharmacokinetic: One drug affects the ADME of another.
- Pharmacodynamic: One drug enhances or inhibits the effects of another.
Considerations: Important in polypharmacy, especially in elderly patients.

Informed Consent: Patients should be informed about drug risks and benefits.
Clinical Trials Ethics: Ensuring safety and fair treatment in research studies.

Personalized Medicine: Tailoring drug therapies based on individual genetics.
Biologics and Biosimilars: Growth of biologic drugs derived from living organisms.
Nanomedicine: Use of nanotechnology for drug delivery and targeting.

Pharmacology studies drug action and its interactions with biological systems.
Key components include drug properties, mechanisms of action, therapeutic applications, side effects, and toxicity.

Clinical Pharmacology: Investigates drug effects in humans and treatment applications.
Experimental Pharmacology: Conducts laboratory and animal studies to assess drug effects.
Pharmacokinetics (ADME):
- Absorption: Entry of drugs into the bloodstream.
- Distribution: Spread of drugs through body tissues.
- Metabolism: Processing and breakdown of drugs by the body.
- Excretion: Elimination of drugs from the body.
Pharmacodynamics: Studies drug effects on biological systems and their mechanisms.

By Source:
- Natural drugs derived from plants and animals.
- Synthetic drugs chemically manufactured in labs.
- Semi-synthetic drugs modified from natural sources.
By Therapeutic Use:
- Analgesics provide pain relief.
- Antibiotics treat infections.
- Antipyretics reduce fever.
- Antidepressants regulate mood.
By Mechanism of Action:
- Agonists activate specific receptors.
- Antagonists block receptor activity.
- Enzyme inhibitors impede enzyme functions.

Drug Discovery: Identifying potential drugs for therapeutic use.
Preclinical Trials: Assessing drug safety and efficacy through animal testing.
Clinical Trials: Conducting phased testing on human subjects to evaluate drug effects.
Regulatory Approval: Submitting research data to regulatory bodies, such as the FDA, for drug approval.
Post-Marketing Surveillance: Monitoring drugs' long-term effects and safety in the population.

Drugs interact with specific receptors to trigger physiological effects.
The dose-response relationship gauges the impacts of drug dosage on effects.
The therapeutic index measures safety, comparing the toxic dose to the effective dose.

Types of Reactions:
- Side effects are non-harmful unintended effects of drugs.
- Toxic reactions occur with overdoses or heightened sensitivity.
- Allergic reactions are immune responses against drugs.

Types:
- Pharmacokinetic interactions occur when one drug alters the absorption, distribution, metabolism, or excretion of another.
- Pharmacodynamic interactions arise when one drug modifies the effects of another.
Drug interaction considerations are crucial in polypharmacy, particularly among elderly patients.

Informed consent requires that patients understand potential risks and benefits before drug administration.
Ethical practices in clinical trials ensure participant safety and equitable treatment.

Personalized Medicine: Customizing drug therapies based on genetic profiles.
Biologics and Biosimilars: Increasing use of biologic drugs sourced from living organisms.
Nanomedicine: Employing nanotechnology for targeted drug delivery and treatment.