Basics

1. • From the Greek pharmakon (drug), legos (to speak)
• Pharmacology studies the effects of drugs and how they
exert their effects.
• acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) can reduce inflammation, pain
and fever
 inhibit the action of a human cell membrane enzyme
known as cyclooxygenase, which is responsible for the
synthesis of a number of inflammatory mediators
• penicillin cures certain bacterial infections
 disrupt the synthesis of cell walls in susceptible bacterial
strains by inhibiting a key enzyme
Pharmacology

8. Two important and interrelated areas:
 Pharmacokinetics: study of the absorption, distribution,
metabolism and excretion of drugs.
(what the Body does to drug)
 Pharmacodynamics: study of the molecular, biochemical,
and physiology effects of drugs on cellular systems and
their mechanisms of action.
(what the drug does to body)
Pharmacology: defns

9.  Neuropharmacology: study of the effect of drugs on
components of the nervous system (brain, spinal cord, nerves)
 Cardiovascular Pharmacology: study of the
effects of drugs on heart, vasculature, kidney,
nervous and endocrine systems that participate in
cardiovascular function.
Example: treatment of Alzheimer's
Example: treatment of high blood pressure
(hypertension)

10.  Molecular Pharmacology: study of the biochemical and
biophysical characteristics of interactions between
drug molecules and those of the cell
Example: Drug-Receptor Interaction
 Biochemical Pharmacology: study of how drugs act with
and influence the chemical ‘machinery’ of the organism
Example: signal transduction through G proteins

11.  Behavioral Pharmacology: study of the effects of drugs on
behavior
Example: treatment of Attention Deficit Disorders
 Endocrine Pharmacology: study of drugs that are
hormones or hormone derivatives
Example: creation of The Pill

12.  Clinical Pharmacology: application of pharmacodynamics
and pharmacokinetics to patients with disease.
Example: use of pharmacogenomics to tailor individual
medical treatment
 Chemotherapy: study of drugs used for treatment of
microbial/viral infection and malignancies
Example: treatment of cancer through anti-angiogenic
agents such as bevacizumab.
ANTIBODY THERAPY

13. • Drug- a drug is "a chemical substance used in the
treatment, cure, prevention, or diagnosis of disease or used
to otherwise enhance physical or mental well-being.“
• Pharmacotherapeutics - use of drugs to treat disorders;
the emphasis is on clinical management
• Pharmacoepidemiology - study of the effect of drugs on
populations;
• Pharmacoeconomics - study of the cost-effectiveness of
drug treatments; the cost of medications is of worldwide
concern, particularly among certain groups such as the
elderly and AIDS patients

14. • Pharmacokinetics
– study the fate of drugs once ingested and the variability of
drug response in varying patient populations
– how the body absorbs, distributes, metabolizes, and
excretes drugs

15. • Pharmacodynamics
– study the mechanisms by which drugs work
– also study endogenous agents

16. Quiz Yourself
1.Pharmakon
2.Logos
3.Chemotherapy
4.(what the Body does to drug)
Pharmacodynamics
Pharmacokinetics
5.