Pharmacology & its branches


The word pharmacology is derived from Greek words Pharmakon which means drugs and logos which means a study.

Pharmacology can be defined as a branch of science that includes history,source, Physicochemical properties,dosage forms,methods of administration, absorption, distribution mechanism of action, Pharmacological effects,biotransformation,excertion,clinical uses and adverse effects of  drug.               (Ref-Misbahuddin-5th,P-1)                                    
or
Pharmacology can be defined as the study of the effects of drugs on the function of living systems.
                                  (Ref-Rang & Dale’s-6th,P-3)                                                                                                    
Medical pharmacology:Medical pharmacology is defined as the science of substances used to prevent,diagnose and treat diseases.                  
                                    (Ref-Katzung-11th,P-01)
Therapeutics:

It is a branch of pharmacology which deals with the use of drugs in human body to detect,protect,control and cure of the diseases.              (Ref:Katzung-11th,P-01)                               
             
Clinical pharmacology:

It is a branch of pharmacology which deals with the scientific study of drugs  in the patients & also in the healthy persons for the safe & effective use of drugs(therapy).

Parts of clinical pharmacology:Two parts:

1)      Pharmacodynamics:This the branch of pharmacology which deals with the biochemical and physiological effect of drugs and their mechanism of action.
         (Ref-Goodman & gilman-11th,P-221)

2)      Pharmacokinetics:The word pharmacokinetic is derived from Greek words Pharmakon means drug & kinein means move.It is a branch of pharmacology which deals with the
·         Absorption.
·         Distribution.
·         Metabolism/Bio-transformation &
·         Excertion of drugs.                 
      (Ref-Misbahuddin-5th,P-3)
Simply pharmacokinetics means’What the body does to the drug?’
Pharmacokinetics→What body does to drug.
Pharmacodynamics→What drug does to body.
Effects of drugs-
*Beneficial effect(Theraputics)
*Adverse effect(Toxicology)

Branches of pharmacolgy:    

a)      Pharmacognosy: It is a branch of pharmacology which deals with
·         Source.
·         Identification.
·     Isolation.               
·         Purification &
·         Standarization of drogs.

b)     Pharmacy:It is a branch of pharmacology which deals with
·         Preparation.
·         Quality control &
·         Dispension of drugs.

c)      Pharmacotheraputics: It is a branch of pharmacology which deals with the application of drugs & treatment of disease.
d)      Toxicology:It is a branch of pharmacology which deals with the undersirable effects(adverse effects) of drug on living systems,from individual cells to complex ecosystems.

e)      Pharmacogenetics: It is a branch of pharmacology which deals with the genetically altered drug response.
f)       Chemotherapy:It is a branch of pharmacology which deals with the effects of drugs upon micro-organism,parasites & cancer cells.

মন্তব্যসমূহ