Introduction to
Pharmacology
DID YOU KNOW?
Pharmacology (derived from the Greek word
pharmakon, which translates into poison in classic
Greek and drug in modern Greek, and -logia,
meaning “the knowledge gained through study”), is
the branch of medicine and biology concerned with
the study of drug action—or, “how a drug works”
PHARMACOLOGY
Pharmacology is the study of the actions of
drugs, incorporating knowledge from other
interrelated sciences. It studies how chemical
substances affect living organisms.
DRUGS
Drugs are classified by
how they affect certain
body systems.
DRUGS CLASSIFICATION
The use of bronchodilators for
respiratory conditions; Therapeutic
use, such as antinausea; or based on
their chemical characteristics, such
as beta-blockers
PHARMACODYNAMICS
Pharmacodynamics is the study of “what the
drug does to the body.” It is a drug’s
mechanism of action and effect on an organism.
PHARMACOKINETICS
Pharmacokinetics is referred to as “what
the body does to the drug” and quantifies
the rate of drug movement in the body.
Specifically, pharmacokinetic studies
characterize the speed of drug
absorption, distribution, metabolism, and
drug elimination.
Pharmacodynamics vs. Pharmacology
The interaction between a drug and its target site is essential for understanding
the molecular basis of drug action (pharmacodynamics); equally as critical
is characterization of the rate and extent of the drug’s movement in the body
(pharmacokinetics).
MARY YVONNE C. SERASPE
Introduction to
Drug Action
What Happens After a Drug Is Administered?
A drug is administered to a patient for a reason: to achieve a desired beneficial,
or clinically observable, therapeutic effect. For this to occur, the drug itself must
ultimately be delivered to a specific place in the body, called the drug’s “site of
action,” to produce its desired effect, known as the “therapeutic response.
DRUG NOMENCLATURE:
Chemical Name
The chemical name is designated according to rules
of nomenclature of chemical compounds (IUPAC—
International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry)
Generic Name
The generic name refers to a
common established name
regardless of its manufacturer.
There is only one generic name
for a drug
Brand Name
The brand name is selected by
the manufacturer and is always
capitalized.
PHARMACOLOGY IN
NURSING PRACTICE
Given the central role of medical therapy
in modern health care, the need for nurses
to have a solid foundation in
pharmacology is profound.
Understanding how a drug acts in the
body, how the body acts on the drug, and
anticipating potential positive and adverse
effects of drugs is tantamount if nurses
are to knowledgeably administer drugs to
patients.
Recognizing drug actions based on
knowledge of pharmacology enables the
nurse to anticipate whether changes in
patient symptoms indicate drugs are
having its intended or adverse effects,
whether medications are acting as drugs
or poisons—“pharmacons.”
References:
Chapters 1 and 2 of Nursing Pharmacology by Smith
MARY YVONNE C. SERASPE
