Pharmaology basics

Question 1

what is pharmacology

Answer 1

it is the study of drugs, and the study of the way tissues and organs can be modified by chemical substances

Question 2

what 2 aspects is pharmacology comprised of

Answer 2

pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics

Question 3

what is meant by the term pharmacodynamics

Answer 3

this is the effect the drug has on the body, its biological effects and its mechanism of action

Question 4

what is meant by the term pharmacokinetics

Answer 4

this is what the body does to the drug, for example absorption, excretion, distribution, metabolism of a drug and its metabolites

Question 5

what is a drug defined as

Answer 5

can mean different things;
any individual synthetic or natural substance of known structure used in the treatment/prevention/diagnosis of disease
can also mean everyday substances such as caffeine, nicotine, alcohol
can also refer to illicit substances eg. heroin, cocaine etc.

Question 6

what is a medicine defined as

Answer 6

a medicine is a chemical preparation of one/more drugs used with intention for therapeutic effect, medicines usually contain agents additional to active drugs

Question 7

what property do drugs usually need in order to make them effective for therapeutic use

Answer 7

a degree of selectivity