Principles of pharmacology

Abstract

Understanding and being able to apply the principles of pharmacology is a key component in the treatment of patients’ medical conditions. Pharmacokinetics describes the interaction of the body upon a drug and its pathway as it moves across cell membranes. Pharmacodynamics encompasses the relationship between drug concentration and the effect within the human body. In addition to pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics leading to individual responses to drug therapy, exploration of the genetic influence continues to be an area of intense research. Each individual has his or her own unique genetic code and how individual genetic variations affect drug response is referred to as pharmacogenetics. While the ability to take one’s medication as directed seems like a simple concept, in actuality, adherence is complex and influenced by many factors. Medication selection and route of administration may be influenced by available formulation options and concomitant conditions. These concepts are reviewed in this chapter.