Guide to Pharmacology

Guide to Pharmacology

The Guide to Pharmacology is a comprehensive resource that provides detailed information about the field of pharmacology, the branch of medicine that deals with the interaction of drugs within the body. It encompasses the study of the properties, effects, and mechanisms of action of drugs, as well as the biological and physiological changes they cause.

Overview[edit | edit source]

Pharmacology is divided into two main areas: pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics. Pharmacodynamics studies the effects of drugs on the body, while pharmacokinetics studies the effects of the body on drugs. This includes how drugs are absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and excreted by the body.

Pharmacodynamics[edit | edit source]

Pharmacodynamics is the study of the biochemical and physiological effects of drugs on the body. It explores how drugs interact with their receptors, the types of receptors they bind to, and the resulting effects of this interaction. This includes the study of agonists, which activate receptors, and antagonists, which block them.

Pharmacokinetics[edit | edit source]

Pharmacokinetics is the study of how the body affects a specific drug after administration. It is concerned with the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) of drugs. This includes the study of bioavailability, the proportion of a drug that enters the circulation and is able to have an active effect.

Clinical Pharmacology[edit | edit source]

Clinical pharmacology is the application of pharmacological principles and methods in the medical clinic and towards patient care. It includes the development, use, and monitoring of drugs for clinical purposes. Clinical pharmacologists work to ensure that drugs are used effectively and safely in patients.

Pharmacogenomics[edit | edit source]

Pharmacogenomics is the study of how genes affect a person's response to drugs. This relatively new field combines pharmacology and genomics to develop effective, safe medications and doses that will be tailored to a person's genetic makeup.