Pharmacology Basics
What is pharmacology?
The study of drugs and how they interact with living organisms.
Which area asks, “What does the drug do to the body?”
Pharmacodynamics.
What was an apothecary?
A person or shop that prepared and sold remedies before modern pharmacies.
What kind of drug information should healthcare workers look for: current and evidence-based, or popular and entertaining?
Current and evidence-based.
What is a primary source?
Original research in which researchers perform a study and report the results.
What is the difference between a drug and a medication?
A drug affects the body; a medication is a drug used for a therapeutic purpose.
Which area asks, “What does the body do to the drug?”
Pharmacokinetics.
Name one type of material historically used to make remedies.
Plants, herbs, minerals, or animal products.
A social media post promises a “miracle cure” that works for everyone. Is that a credibility green flag or red flag?
Red flag.
What is a tertiary source?
Information that has already been collected and summarized for use.
What does OTC stand for?
Over-the-counter.
Which area focuses on how a drug is made into a tablet, liquid, patch, injection, or other usable form?
Pharmaceutics.
Name one change that helped make modern medications safer than medicines used long ago.
Examples include accurate measurements, standardized doses, safer manufacturing, testing, labels, or better chemistry knowledge.
Name two questions you should ask before trusting medication information online.
Any two: Who created it? Why was it created? Where is the evidence? When was it posted or updated?
A clinical trial testing a new medication is what type of source?
Primary source.
Give one reason a healthcare worker needs pharmacology knowledge even if they do not prescribe medications.
To recognize medication-related information, observe patient changes, communicate concerns, or protect patient safety.
Which area asks why a medication is being used to treat a patient?
Pharmacotherapeutics.
True or false: Modern pharmacy is mainly about counting pills.
False.
Why should medication advertisements be evaluated carefully?
Because they are designed to promote or sell a product and may not present the full picture.
A drug handbook or medication database is usually what type of source?
Tertiary source.
Name three things medications may be used to do.
Any three are ok: prevent disease, diagnose disease, treat disease, relieve symptoms, or replace substances the body lacks.
A drug lowers a patient’s heart rate. Which area of pharmacology is being described?
Pharmacodynamics.
Name three areas of work that can be part of modern pharmacy.
Any three: community pharmacy, hospitals, compounding, medication safety, research, manufacturing, technology, or patient education.
A video tells viewers to stop their prescription medication without speaking to a healthcare provider. What should you recognize about this claim?
It is a major red flag and should not be followed without professional guidance.
What is the main purpose of a secondary source?
To help locate, organize, analyze, or understand primary research.