Introduction to Pharmacology

Ibrahim F. Benter

Kuwait University
Faculty of Medicine
Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology
Course: Medical Pharmacology

Course Coordinator:
Dr. Mariam Yousif
(Office: Room 60 Tel:6338)
 Educational Resources
Recommended textbooks
• Integrated Pharmacology - Page et al
• Pharmacology – Rang et al

READING TEXTBOOKS DAILY

IS VERY IMPORTANT
 What is Pharmacology?
Pharmacology embraces the knowledge of drug:
• History
• Source
• Physical and chemical properties
• Biochemical and physical effects
• Mechanisms of action
• Absorption
• Distribution
• Biotransformation
• Excretion
• Therapeutic and other uses
Although the subject of
pharmacology is quite extensive,
the clinician is interested primarily
in drugs that are useful in the
prevention, diagnosis, and
treatment of human disease.
PHYSIOLOGY
Normal

PHARMACOLOGY
correction

PATHOLOGY
abnormal
 What is a drug?

A drug may be defined as a

therapeutic substance intended to
affect the structure or function of
the body in order to restore
abnormal function to normal.
Traditionally, most drugs were
small chemicals with molecular
weights in the hundreds, as well
as a few that were natural human
or animal hormones.
Recently, through advances in
molecular and cellular biology, a
number of protein and peptide
drugs have been approved for
clinical use.

These therapies are designed to

interact with a particular receptor
or enzyme to ameliorate disease.
Today, we now consider the
possibility of the drug replacing a
diseased receptor (or gene) or of
administering agents that allow
patients to make their own
therapeutic protein through gene-
based therapy.
 Uses of Drugs:

• Curative
• Suppressive
• Preventive or prophylactic
 What is selectivity?
• The aim of all therapy is to use a drug that
has only one effect on a particular problem

• However, drugs are only relatively selective

in their effects.

• All drugs are capable of producing adverse

effects as well as their beneficial effects,
depending on the circumstances of their
use.
 The objective of drug
therapy is to provide the
maximum benefit with
minimum harm
 Properties of an ‘ideal’ drug

• Effectiveness
• Chemical stability
• Safety
• Selectivity
• Reversible action
• Predictability
• Ease of administration
• Freedom from drug interactions
• Low cost
 What is pharmacokinetics and
pharmacodynamics?

• what the body does to the drug

(pharmacokinetics)

• what the drug does to the body

(pharmacodynamics)
 How many drugs do you know?
Can you explain their mechanism
of action?

How can you go from

knowing a few drugs to
HUNDREDS of drugs
• Regular attendance to
lectures is very important

• Come on time

• No talking during lectures

 HOW TO STUDY?
• STUDY DAILY

• DO NOT LET MATERIAL ACCUMULATE

• SUDDENLY YOU MAY HAVE 50 NEW DRUGS TO

STUDY

• ASK FOR HELP IF HAVING PROBLEMS

• PREPARE CARDS FOR SELF REVIEW

• ASK FOR HELP BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE

Teaching Assistants

Review Sessions
 PHARMACOLOGY IS:
WHAT YOU WILL BE USING EVERYDAY
WHEN YOU ARE TREATING YOUR
PATIENTS

THEREFORE:
LEARN IT WELL AND PUT IT
IN LONG TERM MEMORY
 Examinations
• VERY DIFFICULT
• MCQs