Pharmacology: It is a branch of science that deals with the study of drugs, their sources, nature & properties and the reaction of the body to the drugs.
Pharmacodynamics: Pharmacodynamics deals with the study of bio-chemical & physiological action of the drugs and their clinical effects in the body.
Pharmacokinetics: It is a branch of pharmacology that is concerned with the movement of drugs i.e. the absorption, distribution, metabolism & excretion of the drugs in the body.
Pharmacogenetics: Pharmacogenetics is a branch of Study that deals with drug reactions in the body that are unanticipated or unusual, and may have a hereditary basis.
Drug: A drug is a chemical substance, that is used to prevent or cure diseases, when administered to the living Organisms, by producing a biological effect that alters the body function physiologically & Psychologically.
Medication: It is a substance or combination of substances that can be used for diagnosis, prevent or treat disease in human beings.
Pharmacy: It is a clinical health Science that deals with the practice of Manufacturing (Production) & dispensing i.e. the safe & Effective use and control of medicinal drugs.
Bio-Transformation: It is the chemical changes that occur in the body following a drug administration.
Half-life: It is the time taken for the amount of drug to decrease by one-half (½) levels in the blood.
Affinity: It is the attraction between the drug and the receptor site i.e. the protein molecules with 1 or more binding site on the cell membrane.
Therapeutic Index: It is a quantitative measurement to identify the relative safety of the drug. It is a ratio that compares the concentration at which the drug becomes toxic & the concentration at which the drug is effective. The higher the therapeutic Index ratio, the safer is the drug.
Drug Potency: Amount of drug required to produce a therapeutic Response.
Drug Interaction: It is the combination of the drug with other substances like food that can alter the effect of drug in the body where the intended potency of the drug either less or more and can result in unexpected side-effects.
Adverse Effect: It is an untoward or an undesired harmful effect of the drug. It is also called as side effect as it is considered to be the secondary effects of the main or therapeutic effect.
Synergistic Effect: It is the effect that the combination of two chemicals/drugs taken together is greater than the sum of their separate effect at the same doses.
Additive Effect: Additive effect means the effect of two chemicals is equal to the sum of the effect of the two chemicals taken separately.
Drug Addiction: Addiction is a psychological and physical inability to stop consuming a chemical, drug, activity, or substance, even though it is causing psychological and physical harm.
Drug Toxicity: It is the level of damage that a drug can cause in the human system when the drug is ingested in a higher amount i.e. the drug dose exceeds the prescribed dose either administered intentionally or accidentally.
Allergic Reaction: It is abnormal reaction of the Immune system to the drug as they recognize them as an foreign body and produces certain signs & symptoms like rash, hives, fever etc.
Indication: Indication is the administration or use of certain drugs to treat a particular disease E.g. Antipyretics administered to treat fever.
Contraindication: It is a condition in which the specific drug is not advised to use due to certain factors or reasons that may lead to potential complications and are harmful to be administered.
Precaution: Precaution is a prior action or measure that is taken to prevent unpleasant & dangerous effects of the drug.
Dose: Dose: It is the prescribed/ specified amount of drug taken at one time. (E.g. 25mg, 500mg etc.)
Dosage: Dosage is the prescribed administration of a specific amount, number, and frequency of doses of drug over a specific period of time. (E.g. 500mg every 4 hrs. for 5 days)
Lethal dose: It is the amount of a drug when administered all at once, which causes death to 50% of the living Organisms. It is represented as LD50
Toxicology: Toxicology is a field of science that helps to understand the harmful effects that chemicals, substances, or drugs, can produce on a living Organisms.
