Introduction to Pharmacology
Hi everyone. Welcome to this series of videos that will introduce you to the basic elements of Pharmacology. The content here is designed for students who have not previously been exposed to Pharmacology, and serves as a primer to the science.
Pharmacology essentially comprises 2 distinct sciences. Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics.
Pharmacokinetics is very simply, the study of the Fate of Drugs in the body. Typically, this includes 4 primary processes of Absorption, Distribution Metabolism and Excretion…. Or ADME for short.
When you take a drug, absorption needs to occur. This is then followed very quickly by a distribution process, whereby drug molecules find their way to different parts of the body. The drug molecules are then eventually eliminated by metabolism and excretion. All these contribute to the rise and fall of drug concentrations in the circulation.
Pharmacodynamics, on the other hand, is the study of how drug molecules produce their effects. Essentially, drug effects are produced by the highly specific interaction between the drug molecule and its receptor. When this occurs, it starts of a series of events that will result in a drug effect. The intensity of drug effect depends on the nature of the drug molecule and the receptor, and is often dependent the concentrations of the drug at the site of action.
The sciences of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics are important in helping us understand the therapeutics of any drug.
In following videos, I will be going into a bit more details about pharmacokinetics, so do continue watching these videos. Follow this channel.
Bye for now.