Medical Pharmacology

DURGE RAJ GHALAN Department of Pharmacology, Sun Yat-sen University School of Medicine

Chapter I Introduction
Definitions 1) 2)

Pharmacology Pharmacodynamics Pharmacokinetics Drugs

What is Pharmacology?
Pharmacology can be defined as the study of
substances (drugs) that interact with living systems (body) through chemical processes, especially by binding to regulatory molecules and activating or inhibiting normal body processes.

Drug-Body Interactions
The interactions between a drug and the body are conveniently divided into two classes.

Pharmacodynamics: Pharmacokinetics:

the actions of the drug on

the body are termed pharmacodynamic processes. the actions of the body on the

drug are called pharmacokinetic processes.

What are drugs?

A drug may be defined as any
chemical substance that brings about a change in biologic function through its chemical actions, is used to prevent, diagnose, and treat diseases.

What are poisons?

Poisons are chemicals that do
harm to the body in small dose. For example: Toxins like pertussis toxin, cholera toxin are poisons of biologic origin, in contrast to inorganic poisons such as lead and arsenic.

What is the relationship between drugs and poisons?

Similarity: they are all chemicals. Difference: dosage
Drugs poisons

What is food?
provides life essential to the body, such as carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, vitamins, and trace elements.
Food and Drug Administration

Food

FDA:

Reference books:
1. Basic & Clinical Pharmacology, 10th edition, edited by Professor Bertram G. Katzung, MD, PhD and published by Lange Medical Books 2. Goodman & Gilmans the Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 10th edition (McGraw-Hill,2001)