Pharmaceutics

Pharmaceutics

Pharmaceutics is the branch of pharmacy concerned with the conversion of a new chemical entity (NCE) into a medication suitable for patient use. Often termed the science of dosage form design, pharmaceutics aims to ensure that drugs are delivered in a safe, effective, and therapeutically beneficial manner.

Introduction

Many compounds possess inherent pharmacological properties. However, achieving the desired therapeutic effects in the body often necessitates special formulation measures. This ensures that therapeutically relevant concentrations are reached at the targeted sites of action. Pharmaceutics plays a pivotal role in bridging the gap between the pure drug substance and its eventual delivery and disposition in the body.

Branches of Pharmaceutics

Pharmaceutics is a multifaceted discipline encompassing various subfields, including:

• Pharmaceutical formulation: This involves the creation of a stable, effective, and patient-friendly drug product from a pure drug molecule.
• Pharmaceutical manufacturing: This deals with the large-scale production and quality assurance of drug products.
• Dispensing pharmacy: This area focuses on the provision of drug dosage forms to the end consumer, ensuring that patients receive the correct medication in the appropriate dosage.
• Pharmaceutical technology: An innovative branch exploring novel drug delivery systems and technologies to enhance drug bioavailability and efficacy.
• Physical pharmacy: This delves into the physical and chemical properties of drug molecules and excipients, exploring their behavior within the human body.
• Pharmaceutical jurisprudence: This branch examines the legal and ethical aspects of pharmacy, ensuring that drug products are developed, manufactured, and dispensed within the framework of the law.

Dosage Forms

Pure drug substances often present as white, crystalline, or amorphous powders. In the era predating the scientific understanding of medicine, it was customary for pharmacists to dispense these raw materials directly to patients. Modern medicine, however, emphasizes the administration of drugs as part of standardized dosage forms. The clinical performance and safety profile of a drug can be significantly influenced by its presentation form.

Importance in Patient Care

Pharmaceutics ensures that drugs are tailored to the needs of patients, taking into consideration factors such as age, comorbid conditions, and potential drug interactions. By optimizing drug formulations, pharmaceutics enhances therapeutic outcomes, minimizes adverse effects, and facilitates patient adherence to treatment regimens.

See Also

• Pharmacology
• Drug development
• Drug delivery systems
• Pharmacy practice
• List of pharmaceutical companies
• Pharmacognosy
• Pharmaceutical company
• Nicholas Culpeper - 17th Century English Physician who translated and used 'pharmocological texts'.