PHARMACOLOGY
Q. Define pharmacology.
Pharmacology
It
is the study of uses, affects and modes of action of drugs. It is the branch of
biomedical science.
The
father of pharmacology is considered as Oswald Schmiedeberg.
Q. What is drug? Where from drugs are derived?
DRUG
The
chemical substance which is use to treat, cure, prevent a disease or to promote
well being or artificial pleasure is called Drug.
Drugs
can be derived from plants and animals.
Q. Describe the categories of drugs.
There
are two categories of drugs:
·
Pharmaceutical drugs: also called medicinal
drugs use to treat diseases
·
Addictive drugs: which makes the person relax by
feeling pleasure.
Q. Describe the sources of drugs.
SOURCES OF DRUGS
Drugs
from plant
Many plants produce certain chemicals which are
use to form drugs such as:
·
Cinchona tree contains Quinine. Quinine is use
to in prevention and treatment of malaria.
·
Opium poppy produces opium which is use as pain
killer.
Drugs from
microorganisms
Microorganisms
such as bacteria and fungi produce primary and secondary metabolites that
constitute about half of the pharmaceuticals in the market as antibiotics and
antifungal drugs.
Example:
·
Tetracycline is obtained from bacteria
·
Lovastatin is obtained from fungi
Drugs from
animals
The
major group of animal products are used as hormones, medicines etc. for
instance;
·
Gonadotropin; a hormone, prepared from horse
serum or obtain from pregnant women. It controls the production of sex
hormones.
·
Hyaluronidase is obtained from microorganisms.
It catalyzes the hyaluronic acid in the body.
Drugs form
minerals
Drugs
can also be synthesized from minerals such as;
·
Iron is use for the treatment of iron deficiency
(anemia)
·
Zinc is use to make zinc oxide paste which is
use in wounds and in eczema
·
Gold salts are use for the treatment of
rheumatoid arthritis
Synthetic
drugs
Synthetic
drugs are man-made drugs,
Q. Describe the principle usage of drugs.
PRINCIPLE USAGE OF DRUGS
PAIN KILLERS
Drugs
which are prescribed to relief the pain are called pain killers.
Example
includes: Paracetamol, Aspirin, Panadol etc.
ANTIBIOTICS
The
class of drug use to fight against bacteria is called antibiotics. It either
kills the bacteria or inhibits its growth.
Example
includes: Penicillin, Cephalosporin, Tetracycline etc.
VACCINE
Vaccines
are the immune boosters which prevent the living bodies from microbial or viral
diseases.
Example
includes: polio vaccine, hepatitis vaccine, rabies vaccine etc.
SEDATIVES
Sedatives
are the antidepressants that are helpful for treating anxiety, sleep disorders,
stress etc.
Example
includes: Diazepam (Valium), Alprazolam (Xanax), Flux (Fluxotein) etc.
Q. Describe the discovery of antiseptic.
DISCOVERY OF ANTISEPTICS
Joseph
Lister is known as Father of antiseptics. His contributions are:
·
Used
carbolic acid as disinfectant
·
Designed
spray machine to kill air borne germs
Q. Describe the discovery of antibiotics.
DISCOVERY OF ANTIBIOTICS
Fleming
was credited for the discovery of first antibiotic i.e. penicillin while
experimenting influenza virus.
Q. What are addictive drugs? Describe in
detail.
ADDICITIVE DRUGS
Addictive
drugs are the drugs that provide a short time pleasure to the body.
Following
are three categories of addictive drugs:
SEDATIVES
Sedatives
are antidepressant which slows down the activity of brain by acting on CNS.
CAUSES
Sedatives
can cause drowsiness and sleepiness.
EFFECT/ USES
·
They
are often used to treat anxiety.
·
To
reduce heart rate
·
To
reduce breathing
NARCOTICS
Narcotics
bind with the pain receptors present in CNS and reduce the pain by blocking the
pain receptors. The overdose of narcotics can lead to the death of a subject.
USE
They
are used to treat moderate to severe pain.
Following are the two examples of narcotics.
a. Heroine
b. Morphine
Heroine
It
is the highly addictive drug. Heroine interact with dopamine levels in the
brain and causes the pleasure to the subject.
Addiction
of heroine can lead to drug tolerance, dependence etc.
Morphine
It
acts on the CNS and cause relief from pain but overdose can cause many side
effects like nausea, vomiting, constipation, light headedness, dizziness,
drowsiness, sweating etc.
HALLUCINOGEN
Hallucinogens
cause the distortions in a person’s perceptions of reality (hallucination).
Some
of the typical effects of hallucinogens are:
Increased breathing rate,
·
Increased
heart rate,
·
Increased
blood pressure,
·
Irregular
heartbeat,
·
Palpitations,
·
Blurred
vision.
Marijuana is one of the examples of hallucinogens
Marijuana
Biological
name of marijuana is Canabbis indica.
The
intake of this drug produces sudden sensations, including increased heart rate,
reduced coordination and balance, dreamy state of mind.
Q. What are the symptoms of addictives?
SYMPTOMS OF ADDICTIVES
·
Inability
to control the use of particular addictive
·
Craving
for drugs, bouts of moodiness, bad temper, poor focus, depression, frustration,
anger, bitterness, resentment etc
·
Risky
activities including driving fast, suicide attempts etc.
Q. What are the problems associated with drug addiction?
Research
reveals that addictive people can easily involved in crimes and becomes a
criminal. Addiction also destroys one’s social life causing anger, short
temper, aggressiveness, harshness etc.
Q. What are antibiotics?
ANTIBIOTICS
The
drug which is specially prepared to treat against bacterial infection is called
antibiotic. Antibiotic either kill (Bactericidal) or inhibit (Bacteriostatic)
the growth of bacteria.
Q. What are the side effects of antibiotics?
SIDE EFFECTS OF ANTIBIOTICS
·
Bacterial
resistance to particular antibiotic,
·
Diarrhea,
·
Stomach
upset,
·
Thrush
(fungal mouth infection),
·
Yellowing
of teeth,
·
Vaginal
yeast infection.
Q. What is mean by antibiotic resistance?
ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE
It
is the ability of bacteria to resist them via antibiotic. This attitude can protect
the bacteria from the effects of medication or neutralizes the medication.
Q. What are vaccines?
VACCINES
The
biological prepared substances use to provide immunity against specific disease
is called vaccines.
Commercially, it is prepared either from dead or weakened form of microbes.
The
first vaccine was prepared by Edward Jenner who used the cowpox virus to confer
protection against small pox.
Q. Define immunization.
Immunization
Immunization is a technique used to enhanced one’s immunity against certain microbes via administration of vaccines.
