Pharmaco Health Dictionary

The branch of science that deals with the discovery and development of drugs. Those working in it (pharmacologists, doctors, scientists and laboratory technicians) determine the chemical structure and composition of drugs and how these act in the body. They assess the use of drugs in the prevention and treatment of diseases, their side-effects and likely toxicity. This work takes place in universities, hospitals and, in particular, the pharmaceutical industry. The latter has expanded tremendously during the 20th century and in Britain it is now one of the largest business sectors, not only providing the NHS with most of its pharmaceutical requirements but also exporting many medicines to other countries.

Pharmacologists not only research for new drugs, but also look for ways of synthesising them on a large scale. Most importantly, they organise with clinicians the thorough testing of drugs to ensure that these are safe to use, additionally helping to monitor the effects of drugs in regular use so as to identify unforeseen side-effects. Doctors and hospital pharmacists have a special reporting system (‘Yellow Cards’) under which they notify the government’s MEDICINES CONTROL AGENCY of any untoward consequences of drug treatments on their patients (see also MEDICINES).... pharmacology

An o?cial publication dealing with the recognised drugs and giving their doses, preparations, sources, and tests. Most countries have a pharmacopoeia of their own. That for Great Britain and Ireland is prepared by the British Pharmacopoeia Commission under the direction of the Medicines Commission. Many hospitals and medical schools have a small pharmacopoeia of their own, giving the prescriptions most commonly dispensed in that particular hospital or school. The British National Formulary is a compact authoritative volume for those concerned with the prescribing or dispensing of medicines.... pharmacopoeia

The way in which the body deals with a drug. This includes the drug’s absorption, distribution in the tissues, METABOLISM, and excretion.... pharmacokinetics

Also called pharmacogenetics – the use of human genetic variations to optimise the discovery and development of drugs and the treatment of patients. The human race varies much more in its genetic make-up than has previously been realised; these variations in GENES and their PROTEIN products could be utilised to provide safer and more e?ective drugs. Genes affect drug absorption, distribution, METABOLISM and excretion. Drugs are designed and prescribed on the basis of a population’s needs, but patients comprise a diverse range of individuals. For example, nearly one-third of patients fail to respond to the cholesterol-reducing group of drugs, the STATINS. Around half do not respond to the tricyclic ANTIDEPRESSANT DRUGS. Over 80 per cent of patients’ responses to drugs depends on their genetics: this genetic variation needs to be identi?ed so as to make the prescription of drugs more e?ective, and technology for analysing genetic variants is progressing. Assessing drug e?ectiveness, however, is not simple because the health and diets of individuals are di?erent and this can affect the response to a drug. Even so, the genetic identi?cation of people who would or would not respond to a particular drug should bene?t patients by ensuring a more accurately targeted drug and by reducing the risks to a person of side-effects from taking a drug that would not work. There would also be substantial economic savings.... pharmacogenomics

The study or knowledge of the pharmacologically active ingredients of plants.... pharmacognosy

See PHARMACOPOEIA.... british pharmacopoeia

See PHARMACOGENOMICS.... pharmacogenetics

World-accepted work. New edition published: 1990, fully revised and updated. Over 80 monographs. Official publication of the British Herbal Medicine Association to set and maintain standards of herbal medicine. Does not contain Therapeutic Section and index that appear in the 1983 edition, but describes macroscopical and microscopical characteristics. Quantitative standards, methods of identification, commercial form and source and description of the powdered form. BHP 1990 vol 1 is available from BHMA Publications, PO Box 304, Bournemouth, Dorset, England BH7 6JZ (£35). Abbreviation: BHP. ... british herbal pharmacopoeia

Provides authoritative standards for the quality of many substances, preparations and articles used in medicine and pharmacy, and includes the monographs of the European Pharmacopoeias. A legally enforceable document throughout the UK, most of the Commonwealth and many other countries, and is an indispensable laboratory handbook for all concerned with the quality of medicines. Published on the recommendation of the Medicines Commission pursuant to the Medicines Act 1968. Published by Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, London. The most useful BPC for the herbal practitioner is the BPC 1934. ... british pharmacopoeia, the

The world’s most comprehensive source of drug information in a single volume. Provides an accurate and concise summary of the properties, actions, and uses of plant and other medicines in clinical use. All information evaluated by expert editorial staff of the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain. ... martindale, the extra pharmacopoeia

n. the interaction of drugs with cells. It includes such factors as the binding of drugs to cells, their uptake, and intracellular metabolism.... pharmacodynamics

Legal status of. Under the 1964 Convention on the Elaboration of a European Pharmacopoeia the standards of the European Pharmacopoeia are required to take precedence over the standards of the national pharmacopoeias of the contracting parties, thus ensuring a common standard. In the United Kingdom this has been achieved by means of section 65(7) of the Medicines Act 1968. In addition to the United Kingdom the countries party to the Convention are Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, German Federal Republic, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Portugal. (Mail 54, June 1988) ... european pharmacopoeia