INTRODUCTION TO
PHARMACOLOGY
By
Sindhu Priya E S
Asst. Professor
YPCRC
SPECIFIC LEARNING OBJECTIVES
At the end of this session, you will be able to
Define Pharmacology and classify different
branches of Pharmacology
Describe the history and scope of pharmacology
Explain different sources of drug
Explain the concept of essential drugs
Describe different routes of administration
Explain Agonists, antagonists( competitive and
non competitive),spare receptors, addiction,
tolerance, dependence, tachyphylaxis,
idiosyncrasy, allergy 2
INTRODUCTION
Pharmacology (Greek)
Pharmacon – Drug / Active principle
Logos - discourse in / study
Pharmacology means
“THE SCIENCE OF DRUGS”
3
DEFINITION
Pharmacology is the study of substances that
interact with living systems through chemical
process, especially by binding to regulatory
molecules & activating or inhibiting normal body
process
It deals with the interaction of exogenously
administered chemical molecule (Drug) with
4
living system
DIVISIONS OF PHARMACOLOGY
Pharmacodynamics
What the drug does to the body
It includes physiological and biochemical effects of
drugs
Explains mechanism of action at molecular level
Pharmacokinetics
What the body does to the drug
It includes movement and alteration of the drug in
the body
Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism and Excretion
5
HISTORY
Rudolf Buchheim – 1847 Oswald Schmiedeberg
First institute of pharmacology Father of Pharmacology
6
DRUG DISCOVERY AND DEVELOPMENT
PROCESS
7
SCOPE OF PHARMACOLOGY
It provides the rational basis for therapeutic use
of the drug
Scientific understanding of the drug enables us to
predict pharmacological effect of new chemical
that will produce a specific therapeutic effect
The scope of pharmacology has expanded to new
approaches to CADD, gentic screening, protein
engineering, use of novel drug delivery vehicles
including viruses and artificial cells.
8
DRUG
Derived from french word “Drogue” which
means “Dry herb”
Any substance that brings change in biological
function through its chemical action
It alters state of the body-
➢ Can’t create new function but alters existing function
9
WHO DEFINITION OF DRUG
Drug is any substance or product that is used or
is intended to be used to modify or explore
physiological systems or pathological states for
the benefit of the recipient
10
RECEPTORS
Specialized target macromolecules present on
the cell surface or intracellularly
11
OTHER BRANCHES OF PHARMACOLOGY
1. Pharmacotherapeutics
It is the application of pharmacological information
together with knowledge of the disease for its prevention,
mitigation or cure
2. Clinical pharmacology
It is the scientific study of drugs in man
3. Chemotherapy
It is the treatment of systemic infection/malignancy with
specific drugs that have selective toxicity for the infecting
organism malignant cell with no/minimal effects on the 12
host cells.
OTHER BRANCHES OF PHARMACOLOGY CONT…
4. Pharmacy
It is the art and science of compounding and dispensing
drugs or preparing suitable dosage forms for
administration of drugs to man or animals.
5. Toxicology
It is the study of poisonous effect of drugs and other
chemicals (household, environmental pollutant,
industrial, agricultural, homicidal) with emphasis on
detection, prevention and treatment of poisonings.
13
APPLICATION OF PHARMACOLOGY
To control speed of onset, intensity of drug effect and
duration of action
To identify the possible side effect and withdrawl
symptoms of the drugs
To avoid adverse effects, drug interactions and
contraindications of drugs
To avoid treatment failure due to tolerance and
resistance
14
To control misuse of drugs
NATURE AND SOURCE OF DRUGS
Drugs will be obtained from different sources
1. Natural
2. Semisynthetic
3. Synthetic
4. Biosynthetic
15
1. NATURAL DRUGS
a. Plants: -Digoxin from Digitalis purpurea
-Atropine from Atropa belladona
-Quinine from Cinchona officinalis
b. Animals: -Insulin from pork/beef
-Cod liver oil from Cod fish liver
c. Minerals: -Iron, Iodine, Potassium salts
d. Microorganisms:
-Penicillin from Penicillium notatum
-Chloramphenicol from Streptomyces
venezulae (Actinomycetes)
16
2. Semi synthetic drugs: These are prepared by
chemical modification of natural drugs
Eg: Ampicillin from Penicillin G
3. Synthetic drugs: These are synthesized drugs
in pharmaceutical laboratory
Eg: Sulphonamides, Quinolones, Barbiturates
4. Biosynthetic drugs:
These are prepared by cloning of human DNA
into the bacteria like E.coli
Eg: Human Insulin (Humilin), human Gh,
monoclonal antibodies
17
DRUG NOMENCLATURE
A drug has 3 categories of names
1. Chemical name (IUPAC ) / Scientific name:
Based on molecular structure of the drug
Very long, too complex to use in common practice
Eg:1-(lsopropylamino)-3-(1-naphthyloxy) prop an-2 -ol for
propranolol
2. Non-proprietary name / Generic name:
Given by approval authorities
Short hand version of chemical name
Recommended in Rx
Eg: Meperidine (Pethidin), Lidocaine (lignocaine),
paracetamol 18
DRUG NOMENCLATURE
3. Proprietary name / Brand name:
Given by pharmaceutical companies
It will be costly
Eg: ALTOL, ATCARDIL, ATECOR, ATEN, BETACARD,
LONOL, TENOLOL, TENORMIN for atenolol, DISPRIN
19
ESSENTIAL DRUGS
WHO Definition:
Essential drugs are the drugs which satisfy the
priority healthcare needs of the population
They are selected with due
regard to public health relevance
efficacy and safety
comparative cost effectiveness
20
NEED FOR ESSENTIAL DRUG LIST
They should be available within the context of
functioning health systems
At all times
In adequate amounts
In appropriate dosage forms
With assured quality and adequate information
At an affordable price
21
WHO prepared its first Model List of Essential
Drugs in 1977
This has been revised from time to time and the
current is the 20th list (2017) with 433 medicines
India produced its National Essential Drugs List
in 1996
It has been revised in 2015 with the title
"National List of Essential Medicines"
This includes 376 medicines in which 20 are
FDCs 22
ORPHAN DRUGS
These are drugs or biological products for
diagnosis/treatment/prevention of a rare disease
or condition
Eg: sodium nitrite, fomepizole, liposomal
amphotericin, ancrod, rifabutin, succimer,
somatropin, digoxin immune Fab (digoxin
antibody), liothyronine (T3)
23
ROUTES OF ADMINISTRATION
1. Local: Topical (skin & mucous membrane),
Deeper tissues, arterial supply
2. Systemic
a. Enteral: Oral, Sublingual, Rectal
b. Parenteral – inhalational, injections
(intradermal, subcutaneous, intravenous,
intramuscular, intrathecal), Transdermal
24
25
Different routes of
administration and
first pass metabolism
26
FACTORS GOVERNING CHOICE OF ROUTE
Drug characteristics (state, solubility, stability, pH)
Site of action (localized or generalized)
Effect of digestive juices and first pass metabolism
Onset of action (slow or fast)
Rapidity of response (routine or emergency)
Accuracy of dose required (i.v. and inhalational)
Liver and kidney diseases
Patient condition (unconscious, vomiting)
27
A. LOCAL - TOPICAL
1. Skin
A. Dermal- Drugs applied as ointment, cream, lotion,
paste, powder, spray, oil, gels etc
B. Transdermal – absorption of drug through skin
2. Mucous membrane
The dosage form depends on the site of application
Eye drops, eardrops, nasal drops, antiseptics, sunscreen,
jellys etc…
28
B. SYSTEMIC ROUTE
I. ENTERIC – ORAL ROUTE (P.O)
It is oldest and commonest mode of drug administration
Advantages Disadvantages
Convenient mode Slow absorption
Noninvasive Slow action
Painless Irritable and unpalatable
Economical Cannot be used for
Safe uncooperative/ unconciuos
patients
Can be self administered
May cause nausea /
Both solids and liquids can
vomiting
be taken
First pass effect
29
ORAL DOSAGE FORMS
Tablets
Capsules
Syrup
Emulsions
Suspensions
30
Elixirs
2. SUBLINGUAL / BUCCAL ROUTE
The tablet or pellet containing drug is placed under the
tongue or crushed in the mouth and spread over the buccal
mucosa
Lipid soluble and non-irritating drugs can be administered
Advantages Disadvantages
Economical Unpalatable & bitter drugs
Quick termination Irritation of oral mucosa
First pass avoided Large quantities can’t be
Drug absorption is quick given
Can be self administered Few drugs are absorbed 31
3. RECTAL ROUTE
Unpleasant and irritant drugs will be placed into rectum as
suppositories or enema. Eg: Aspirin, theophylline,
chlorpromazine
Advantages Disadvantages
Used in children Inconvenient
Little or no first-pass effect Irritation or inflammation
Used in vomiting / of rectal mucosa can occur
unconscious conditions Absorption is slow and
Higher concentrations are erratic
achieved rapidly
3232
VAGINAL ROUTE
Drugs may be
administered in the
vagina in the form of
pessaries
Eg: Antifungal vaginal
pessaries
33
II. PARENTERAL ROUTE
➢ The drug is injected directly into the tissue fluid or blood
without crossing intestinal mucosa.
➢ Derived from Greek word- para-outside; enteron-intestine
➢ It includes
1. Inhalations – absorption through lungs
2. Injections – administered using syringe needles
3. Transdermal drug delivery system
34
1. INHALATION
The drug is inhaled into lungs directly
Gaseous and Volatile drugs. Eg: Anesthetic agents
Advantages Disadvantages
Rapid onset of action Irritant vapours cause
Absorption takes place inflammation of
from vast surface of alveoli respiratory tract
First pass metabolism is
avoided
NASAL
The drug is administered into nasal cavity in the form of
spray or nebulizer or drops
Mucous membrane of nose can readily absorb many drugs
35
Digestive juices and liver bipassed
36
2. INJECTIONS
INTRAVENOUS (I.V.)
The drug is injected as bolus / infused slowly in one of the
superficial veins
Drug directly reaches blood stream
Advantages Disadvantages
100% bioavailability Cannot be self
Precise, accurate and administered
immediate onset of action High risk of adverse effects
First pass avoided High conc. Achieved
Highly irritant drugs can rapidly
be injected Risk of embolism
Drugs which are not Thrombophlebitis and
absorbed orally can be necrosis
37
given
38
INTRAMUSCULAR (I.M.)
The drug is injected in one of the large skeletal muscle-
deltoid, triceps, gluteus maximus, rectus femoris
Advantages Disadvantages
Fast onset of action Cannot be self
First pass avoided administered
Mild irritants can be
injected
39
INTRADERMAL
The drug is injected in to the skin raising a bleb
This route is employed for specific purpose only
Eg: BCG Vaccine, small pox vaccine
SUBCUTANEOUS
The drug is deposited in the loose subcutaneous tissue
rapidly supplied by nerves
Irritants cannot be injected
Tissue is less vascular. Hence absorption is slow
40
Subcutaneous injection
Intradermal injection
41
3. CUTANEOUS ROUTE
TRANSDERMAL DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM
• The drug is delivered at the skin surface by diffusion for
percutaneous absorption into circulation
• Drug delivery at constant and predictable rate
Backing film
Drug reservoir
Rate controlling
micropore
membrane
Adhesive layer
with priming
dose
Capillary
42
CASE STUDY
43
REFERENCES
Essentials of Medical Pharmacology by K.D
Tripathi
Pharmacology for Pharmacy students by
Padmaja Udaykumar
Goodman and Gilman’s Manual of Pharmacology
and Therapeutics
44
THANK YOU
45
