INTRODUCTION TO

PHARMACOTHERAPEUTICS &
COURSE ORIENTATION

Dr Latoya Harris
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
The following areas will be reviewed:
Common definitions
Drug nomenclature
Drug sources
Drug profiling
Course orientation
Rational Drug Prescribing
Prescription Writing & Analysis
DEFINITIONS
BASIC DEFINITIONS
› WHAT IS PHARMACOLOGY?
› WHAT IS A DRUG?
› WHAT IS A PHARMACOKINETICS?
› WHAT IS PHARMACODYNAMICS?
› WHAT IS PHARMACOTHERAPEUTICS?
› WHAT IS TOXICOLOGY?
 PHARMACOLOGY

› study of substances that interact with living systems through

chemical processes, especially by binding to regulatory
molecules & activating or inhibiting normal body processes.
(Katzung)

› study of the biochemical & physiologic aspects of drug effects,

including absorption, distribution, metabolism, elimination,
toxicity, & specific mechanisms of drug action.
DRUG
 Any chemical that affects the processes of
a living organism
* it may be synthesized within the body (e.g.
hormones)
* it may be chemicals not synthesized in the
body (xenobiotics)
* it may also have harmful effects (poisons),
especially if taken in the wrong dosage
a) biologic in origin – toxins (plants or animals)
b) inorganic poisons (lead & arsenic)
 PHARMACOKINETICS

› The study of what the body does to the drug:

– Absorption
– Distribution
– Metabolism
– Excretion Administration
Absorption
Distribution
Metabolism
Elimination/Excreti
on
 PHARMACODYNAMICS

› The study of what the drug does to the body:

– The mechanism of drug actions in living tissues
– The relationship between drug dose and clinical response
– The adverse effects of drugs
 PHARMACOTHERAPEUTICS

› The use of drugs and the clinical indications for

drugs to prevent and treat diseases

Vaccines prevent disease

 Are the most cost-effective, most
important medical development of
the 20th century

Other drugs treat disease

TOXICOLOGY

› is a branch of pharmacology which deals with the undesirable

effects of chemicals on living systems, from individual cells to
complex ecosystems. (Katzung)
DRUG NOMENCLATURE
NOMENCLATURE
› GENERIC NAME
› TRADE NAME
› CHEMICAL NAME
NOMENCLATURE
GENERIC NAME
› Non-proprietary
› Official Name
› Given by Government
› internationally recognized
› There is only a single generic name for each drug
NOMENCLATURE
TRADE NAME
› Brand name
› Registered name
› Proprietary name; patented property of the drug
manufacturer
› Given by manufacturer
› Drugs of identical composition may have many different
proprietary names
NOMENCLATURE
CHEMICAL NAME
Given by established organisation of chemists
Defines chemical structure of drug
NOMENCLATURE – EXAMPLE 1

Generic name
› Ibuprofen

Trade name
› Motrin

Chemical name
› 2-(p-isobutylphenyl) propionic acid
NOMENCLATURE – EXAMPLE 2

Generic name
› Aspirin

Trade name
› Bayer Aspirin

Chemical name
› Acetylsalicylic acid (ASA)
DRUG SOURCES
Where do drugs come from?
› Natural sources, historically
– NATURAL DOES NOT = GOOD or SAFE

› Synthetic drug sources

› Insulin (protein)
– From pigs or horses
– Made in lab
COMPONENTS OF A
DRUG PROFILE
Components of a Drug Profile
› Names › Side Effects
› Classification (including › Interactions
prototype) › Routes of Administration
› Mechanism of Action › Dosage
› Kinetics › How Supplied
› Indications › Special Considerations
› Contraindications
DRUG INSERT EXAMPLES
COURSE ORIENTATION
TOPIC AREAS
› PHARMACOKINETICS
› PHARMACODYNAMICS
› RATIONAL DRUG PRESCRIBING
› TOXICOLOGY
TEACHING METHODS
› Didactic lectures
› Case-based learning
› Small group discussions
› Practical sessions
RATIONAL PRESCRIBING
This process consists of six steps:
Define the patient’s problem
Specify the therapeutic objective
Verify whether your P-treatment is suitable for this patient
Start the treatment
Give information, instructions and warnings
Monitor (stop) the treatment
CLINICAL CASE SCENARIO

52 yr old taxi driver complains of a sore throat which started 2

wks earlier with a cold. He has stopped sneezing but still has a
cough, especially at nights. He is a heavy smoker who has often
been advised to stop. Further history and examination reveals
nothing special, apart from a throat inflammation. The doctor
again advises the patient to stop smoking and writes a
prescription for codeine tablets, 15 mg, 1 tablet three times
daily for 3 days.
Homework
PRESCRIPTION ANALYSIS
SUMMARY
› A drug may be described as any substance that can modify
normal body processes
› Pharmacokinetics refers to the effects of the body on the drug
› Pharmacodynamics refers to the effects to the drug on the
body
› Toxicology refers to the undesirable effects of chemical
substances on biologic systems
› Drugs are generally given three names: chemical, generic and
brand
› WHO has defined a six-step process to rational drug
prescribing.