What is Pharmacology and Toxicology?

Pharmacology: Study of drugs and their uses to the body Toxicology: Study of adverse effects of chemicals (including drugs) on living systems and the means to prevent or ameliorate (improve) such effects
Pharmacology places more emphasis on the therapeutic effects of chemicals (particularly drugs) while Toxicology focuses more on the adverse effects of chemicals and risk assessment. However, they are very similar. They require an understanding of basic properties and actions of chemicals. Understanding Pharmacodynamics and Pharmacokinetics

Pharmacodynamics: is the study of biochemical and physiological effects of drugs on the body or on microorganisms / parasites within or on the body and the mechanisms of drug action. Also the relationship of the drug concentration and effect. - Often summarize as the study of what a drug does to a body. Pharmacokinetics: uses mathematical models to describe and predict the time-course of concentrations in body fluids. It is the study of the mechanisms of absorption and distribution of an administered drug. [The rate at which the drug action begins and the duration of the effect, the chemical changes of the substance in the body and the effects and routes of excretion of the metabolites of the drug. Mechanism of Drugs

There are two mechanism of drugs namely agonist and antagonist - Agonist: When it binds to a receptor and causes a response or effect - Antagonist: When it binds to a receptor and prevents a compound or drug to have an effect to the receptor

Properties of Ideal Drug Easy to consume (Ease of administration) Safe to consume Predictable effects Minimum side effects Minimum/ free from drug interaction Low cost Chemically stable Effective Selective Reversible action Factors affecting drug response Age Digestion, Absorption, Metabolism and excretion Dosage of the drug A person genetic make-up Body size Time taken Formulation of the drugs

 Naming of Drugs

A drug is given 3 names: Generic, Chemical and Brand name. There are certain criteria to be met when given each of the above name. Generic name: Must be appropriate for the drug, easy to pronounce and euphonic (sounds pleasant). Cannot be confusing or misleading . The name often
has a stem common to related drugs (e.g. angiotensis-converting-enzyme inhibitors end with "pril"). The USAN Council will attempt to minimize the possibility of it sounding similar to other drug name.

Example Generic name for panadol is paracetamol/acetaminophen. Brand name: Given by the company which came out with the drug.
The name must be easy to remember. If the drug is expected to be used on a nonprescription basis, it should not be given a name that sounds medicinal. The company would then hire outside consultants to evaluate on the name making sure that the names will not have potential disputes. They are usually accompanied by a TM (trademark) sign at the top right hand corner of the name.

Example Brand name for Panadol is panadol.

Chemical name: Specifies the molecular structure of the drug and is used primarily by researcher.
It is usually long and difficult to remember thus doctors, consumers, pharmacists usually preferred to refer the drug generic name. Another reason is that chemical has numbers in them such as 6-thioguanine and there is a concern that it would work its way to the prescription. The number 6 might be mistaken for 6 doses.

Example Chemical name for Panadol is: N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethanamide or N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)acetamide