Basic Pharmacology Flashcards
1
Q
Definition of pharmacology
A
Study of drugs, medicine and pharmaceuticals
2
Q
What is ‘Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics’ (CPT)
A
Teaches the mechanisms and effects of drugs that doctors prescribe to their patient
3
Q
What is a drug?
A
Active substance with a direct effect in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment and prevention of disease
4
Q
What is a placebo?
A
An inactive substance that is administered as though it is a drug, but which has no therapeutic effect
5
Q
How did pharmacology emerge?
A
Through identifying, purifying and modifying plant-derived molecules
6
Q
Why are herbal remedies mostly useless?
A
- Dirty mixtures of multiple ingredients
- Contaminants may be toxic
- Active ingredient is often present in unknown amounts
- No consistent dose to ensure safety
7
Q
What do ethical pharmaceuticals involve?
A
- Purification of active molecules to remove contaminants
- Testing activity of known amounts in biological models
- Modification of structure to improve activity
- Testing efficacy, safety, and bioavailability in randomised placebo-controlled clinical trials
- Stringent legal requirements to prove efficacy and safety
