Fundamental Concepts of Pharmacology

DRUG DEFINITION AND REGULATIONS

PHARMACOLOGY
Greek Word
- Pharmacon - Drug
- Logos - Science

- Science of drugs - dealing with the study of Desirable and

Undesirable effects.

Medical Pharmacology - Branch of pharmacology deals with the use of

drugs in human body for diagnosis, prevention,suppression and
treatment of the diseases.
Clinical Pharmacology - Deals with the Scientific study of Drugs
(Pharmacokinetics & Pharmacodynamic parameters) in the patients &
also in the healthy persons for the safe & effective use of Drugs
(Therapy).
Drug- Chemical agent capable of producing biological responses within
the body
Medication - drug after it is administered
Toxicology - Deals with the adverse effect of the drug and also the
study of poisons
Pharmacology - study of drug effects on living organism
Pharmacotherapeutics - use of drug to tx, dx or prevent disease
Pharmacy - Art of preparing and dispensing drugs
Pharmacist - person licensed to prepare and dispense drugs
Pharmacopoeia - Book containing list of products used in medicine
Pharmacognosy - study of drugs obtained from natural sources
Posology - study of dosage/amount of drugs given in the treatment of
diseases
 Dose: amount of drug to be administered at one time
 Dosage: determination of amount, frequency and number of dose
for a patient
 Therapeutic dose: dose require to produce the optimal therapeutic
effect
 Maximum dose: largest dose of drug that is sage to administration
and produce no toxic effect
 Minimum dose: smallest dose of drug that will be effective

Vital Facts:
Orphan drugs: discovered drugs but aren’t financially viable.
OTC drugs: Drugs for self-medication
Generic name: Name given before it becomes official
Official name: Name listed in official publications
Chemical name: Precise constituents of the drug
Trademark/brand name: name given by drug manufacturer

Chemical Names
 Convey clear, concise information about the drug
 Difficult to pronounce and remember
 Example: diazepam
 7-chloro-1, 3-dihydro-1-methyl-5phenyl-2H-1, 4-
benzodiazepine-2-1
 In few cases, the chemical name may be used
 Calcium gluconate
 Sodium chloride

Generic Names
 Less complicated and easier to remember
 Biosimilars should not be called generic medications
 Use generic name of drug followed by 4 lowercase
letters

Trade Names
 Usually short ans easy to remember
 Assigned by the company marketing the drug
 Trade name also known as propriety, product, or brand name
 Usually capitalized (Benadryl versus diphenhydramine)
 Combination drugs contain more than one generic active
ingredient
LEGAL REGULATION OF DRUGS
-Pregnancy Catergories
-Controlled Substances

Drug Categories (in r/t Pregnancy) according to the Food and Drug
Administration:
Category A: safe for human fetus
- example drugs or substances: levothyroxine, folic acid,
magnesium sulfate, liothyronin

Category B: animal reproduction studies

- failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus
- safe to animal fetus
- inadequate studies on H.F.

Category C: adverse effects on animal fetus

- inadequate studies on H.F.
- example drugs: tramadol, gabapentin, amlodipine,
trazodone, prednisone

Category D: risk to human fetus

- given if benefits outweigh the risk
- example drugs: lisinopril, alprazolam, losartan,
clonazepam, lorazepam

Category X: adverse effects on animal & human fetuses

- risks clearly outweigh the benefits
- Universal Pharmacologic Nursing rule during pregnancy:
 Never give any drug unless it is clearly
needed

Category N: FDA has not yet classified the drug into a specified
pregnancy category

Controlled Substances and Drug Schedules

Schedule I (C-I) : high abuse potential and not accepted medical use.
(Heroin, marijuana)

Schedule II (C-II) : high abuse potential with severe dependence

liability. (narcotics, ampithamines, and
barbiturates)

Schedule III (C-III) : less abuse potential than Schedule II and

moderate dependence liability. (tylenol with
codeine)

Schedule IV (C-IV) : less abuse potential than Schedule III and

limited dependence liability. (some sedative,
non-narcotic analgesic)

Schedule V (C-V) : limited abuse potential, Prescription may not be

required (antitussive, antidiarrheals)