INTRODUCTION TO PHARMACOLOGY

KABWE COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES

PMH 125

Mr. R CHALWE
B.PHARM
Session Objectives:
At the end of this session, YOU should be able to:

1. Define pharmacology and its significance to society;

2. Describe the structure of pharmacology and its links to other

biomedical sciences;

3. Appreciate the scope of pharmacology and its application in

therapeutics
What is Pharmacology?

The science concerned with the study of the interactions of chemical

substances (i.e. drugs) with biologic systems i.e. how drugs exert their
effects on living systems

 Interactions chemical processes e.g. binding to regulatory

molecules and activating normal physiological function or inhibiting
pathological processes
What is a drug?

A chemical substance of known structure, other than a nutrient or an essential

dietary ingredient, which, when administered to a living organism, produces a
biological effect. (Rang et al)

Biological effect can be modification, moderation, alteration or restoration of

physiological process of cellular, tissue, organ or system
Drug vs. Medicine

What is a medicine?

A medicine is a chemical preparation, which usually but not

necessarily contains one or more drugs, administered with the
intention of producing a therapeutic effect.

Medicines usually contain other substances (excipients, stabilisers,

solvents, etc.) besides the active drug, to make them more convenient
to use.
Scope of Pharmacology

 Pharmacokinetics

 Pharmacodynamics

Pharmacogenomics

Therapeutics

Toxicology
Therapeutics
Focuses on actions and effects of drugs and other chemical agents with
physiological, biochemical, microbiological, immunological, or behavioral factors
influencing disease.

Also considers how disease may modify the pharmacokinetic properties of a drug
by altering its absorption into the systemic circulation and/or its tissue
disposition.

Integrates principles of pharmacology, physiology, biochemistry, cellular and

molecular biology, microbiology, immunology, genetics, and pathology.
Pharmacological Sciences & Specialties
Clinical Pharmacology Drug Discovery
Neuropharmacology
Cardiovascular pharmacology
Endocrine pharmacology
Molecular pharmacology
Biochemical pharmacology
Behavioural pharmacology
Chemotherapy
Integrated systems pharmacology
Immunopharmacology
Pharmacogenetics & Proteomics
Veterinary Pharmacology Quantitative Pharmacology
Ethnopharmacology
Enjoy the Course
&
Best wishes!!