LESSON 2
OTHER TOPICAL DRUGS; GASTROINTESTINAL AGENTS;
RESPIRATORY DRUGS; LOCAL ANESTHETICS
Section I. INTRODUCTION TO PHARMACOLOGY
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DEFINITIONS
a. Drug. A drug may be broadly defined as any substance or group of
substances that affects living protoplasm. However, the term is used most often to refer
to any substance used to prevent, diagnose, or treat disease or to prevent conception.
A drug of choice is the most effective or most commonly used drug for achieving a
desired therapeutic effect.
b. Pharmacology. Pharmacology is the study of drugs in all their respects.
c. Therapeutics. Therapeutics is the science and art of healing.
d. Poison. A poison is a substance which when absorbed or ingested into the
body may alter physiology to a mild or a critical extent by damaging body tissues or
cells.
e. Toxicology. This is the study of poisons, their actions, the treatment of
poisoning, and the use of antidotes.
f. Pharmacy. This is the art and science of preparing and dispensing drugs for
medical purposes. Pharmaceutical is a adjective which means pertaining to pharmacy.
g. The United States Pharmacopeia and The National Formulary (U.S.P/
N.F.). This one reference contains standards and tests for quality, purity, strength,
packaging, and labeling of drugs in the United States. The U.S.P./N.F. has information
which is useful to persons whose jobs require them to work with various medications.
Annual supplements to the reference ensure that it contains the latest information on
drugs.
h. Official Drug or Preparation. An official drug or preparation is one that is
listed in the U.S.P./N.F.
MD0913
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