Pharmacology Basics Quiz

Pharmacology

• The study of drugs, their sources, actions in diseases, and effects on living organisms.
• A drug is a substance used for diagnosis, cure, or disease prevention.
• Pharmacy is the science of drug preparation.
• Drugs cannot change function, they only increase, decrease, or correct it.

Sources of Drugs

• Plant-derived: Morphine, atropine
• Animal-derived: Insulin
• Microorganism-derived: Penicillin
• Synthetic: Aspirin, sulfa drugs
• Mineral-derived: Kaolin, liquid paraffin

Drug Action in the Body

• Interactions of drugs with blood or tissue modify existing functions.

Types of Drug Action

• Local action: Action at the site of application, like antiseptics.
• Systemic action: Drug is absorbed and reaches distant organs for action, like penicillin in pneumonia.
• Reflex action: Effects seen at different sites, like ammonia inhalation stimulating the brain.

Factors Affecting Drug Action

• Dose: Too little has no effect, too much is toxic.
• Age: Children are sensitive to CNS drugs but tolerate antibiotics better. They need lower doses than adults.
• Body surface area: Chemotherapeutic agents are dosed based on body surface area.
• Presence of other drugs: Ephedrine with aminophylline has a stronger effect in asthma.
• Other factors: Genetics, emotions, metabolism, and drug tolerance.

Forms of Drugs

• Internal use: Pills, tablets, capsules, spansules
• External use: Ointment, pastes, creams, jellies
• Internal or external use: Liquids (mixtures, suspensions, emulsions)
• External use: Lotions, liniments
• Injectable: Powders with distilled water, liquids in ampoules and vials (single or multidose).

Drug Administration Routes

• Local: Applied directly to the affected area.
• Oral:
  • Sublingual: Chewing or direct absorption under the tongue.
  • Swallowing: Tablets, capsules, etc.
• Inhalation: Used for anesthetic drugs and steam inhalation.
• Instillation: Liquids in drops, used in body cavities or orifices like ears, nose, and eyes.
• Injection:
  • Ampoules: Single dose.
  • Vials: Multiple doses.
  • Bottles: For normal saline (NS) and dextrose normal saline (DNS) infusions.
  • Intradermal: Injected into the skin, like BCG vaccine.
  • Subcutaneous: Injected between the skin and muscle, like measles vaccine.
  • Intramuscular: Injected into the muscle, like B-complex and T.T. injections.
  • Intravenous: Injected into the vein, like aminophylline, deriphylline, and IV fluids for dehydration.
• Enema: Medication administered rectally as a suppository.