study of effects of chemical substances on living tissue

• prevention: vitamins, vaccines
• diagnosis
• curative: antibiotics
• palliative (controls symptoms but does not cure disease): pain medications, insulin

• plants: digitalis (purple foxglove); opium (poppy)
• animals: insulin (pigs, sheep, cattle)
• minerals: iron, iodide, calcium
• chemicals

• pharmacological: name, function
• legal: prescription, non-prescription
• illegal
• orphan

• chemical
• generic: always lower cased
• trade/brand: always Capatilized (ex - Tylenol, Bayer)

• clinical indication (by disease it treats)
• body system
• chemical action

• prescription: controlled (dangerous with potential for abuse), non-controlled
• non-prescription (over the counter - OTC)

• US Pharmacopeia and National Formulary: only attained by government
• Drug Information (AHFS): we can access, but hard to read
• Micromedix database: online source
• Physicians Drug Reference
• Textbooks, journals
• Pharmacists

• active ingredient: responsible for desired effects
• additives: vehicles, fillers, diluent, binder, flavors, dyes

• help carry active ingredient
• give form/substance
• ex - water, cocoa butter

• bulk for solid preparations
• ex - sugars, starch
• may cause intolerance/allergies

• increases bulk in liquid preparation
• reduce concentration

• improve cohesiveness of tablet
• shaping (ex- flinstone vitamins)

• make palatable

• make attractive
• may cause allergies

• manufacturer patent for 20 years
• reduced cost
• must assure bioequivalence (same action)
• writing tip: generic = lower case