What is Pharmacology?

Question 1

What is Pharmacology?

Answer 1

The study of how various drugs and compounds interact with biological systems

Question 2

What is a drug?

What is a medicine?

Answer 2

Drug
- A chemical substance of known structure, other than a nutrient or an essential dietary ingredient, which, when administered to a living organism, produces a biological effect
- These may be synthetic, obtained from plants or animals, or products of biotechnology (biopharmaceuticals)

Medicine
- A chemical preparation which usually, but not necessarily, contains one or more drugs, administered with the intention of producing a therapeutic effect
- Usually contains other substances besides the active drug to make them more convenient to use

Question 3

What is toxicology?

Answer 3

The study of the harmful effects of chemical substances including drugs

Question 4

What is pharmacokinetics?

What is pharmacodynamics?

What is pharmacogenetics?

Answer 4

Pharmacokinetics
- The study of the absorption, distribution, and elimination of drugs throughout the body

Pharmacodynamics
- The study of the molecular, biochemical, and physiological effect of rugs on cellular/body systems and their mechanisms of action

Pharmacogenetics
- The study of genetic influences on the effectiveness and fate of drugs