PHARMACOLOGY Chapter 1 Flashcards

Pharmacology Overview

• Pharmacology is the study of medicine and its effects on living organisms.

Therapeutics

• Focuses on disease prevention and treatment of suffering.
• Includes drugs, biologics, and complementary/alternative therapies.

Pharmacotherapy

• The application of drugs to treat diseases and reduce human suffering.

Differences Between Pharmacology and Therapeutics

• Pharmacology studies the effects of chemical compounds, while therapeutics pertains to disease treatment.

Definitions

• Drug: A chemical agent that can cause biological responses in the body, not always desirable.
• Medication: Drugs given after a disease or condition has occurred.
• Biologics: Naturally produced agents from animal cells, microorganisms, or the body.
• CAM Therapies: Involves natural extracts, herbs, and supplements outside conventional medicine.

Drug Classifications

• Therapeutic Classification: Organizes drugs based on their effectiveness in treating diseases.
• Pharmacologic Classification: Based on the molecular or systemic level actions of a drug.

Drug Action

• Mechanism of Action: Describes how a drug exerts its physiological effects.
• Prototype Drug: A standard drug representative of a class, used for comparison.

Drug Names

• Chemical Name: Assigned by IUPAC, unique to each drug.
• Generic Name: Simpler name assigned by the Adopted Name Council.
• Trade Name: Brand name given by the marketing company, capitalized, and easy to remember.

Drug Composition

• Combination Drug: Contains multiple active generic ingredients.

Bioavailability

• The extent to which a drug reaches target cells and produces its effects.

Pharmacoeconomics

• A sub-discipline examining the broader impacts of drug therapies from an economic perspective.

Therapeutic vs. Pharmacologic Classifications

• Therapeutic classification organizes drugs by their treatment usefulness.
• Pharmacologic classification revolves around their molecular or systemic effects.

Examples of Classifications

• Beta-adrenergic blocker: Pharmacologic
• Oral contraceptive: Therapeutic
• Laxative: Therapeutic
• Folic acid antagonist: Pharmacologic
• Antianginal agent: Therapeutic

Prototype Drugs

• Typical drugs of a class that help understand actions and side effects of similar drugs.

Generic Drugs

• Advantages include cost savings and consistent naming, but differences in inert ingredients could impact drug effectiveness.

This quiz covers key terms and definitions from Chapter 1 of 'Adams' Pharmacology. Engage with important concepts such as pharmacology, therapeutics, and pharmacotherapy. Perfect for students looking to reinforce their understanding of essential pharmacological principles.