Pharmacology 1

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Pharmacology 1
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Osteos and Pharmacology

• Drugs can affect osteo treatment
• Side effects can mimic presenting complaints
• Osteos are legally responsible for any outcomes
  of medication advice they give
• Osteo can treat the effects of Medication
• Patients request drug information from osteos
• Some osteos want (ltd) prescribing rights
• Some patients doctor-shop and no-one health
  care practitioner may know all their medication

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Definitions

• Pharmacology the study of drugs, including
  their actions, and effects in living organisms
• Drug any substance or product that is used or
  intended to be used to modify or explore
  physiological systems or pathological states for
  the benefit of the recipient (WHO)

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History

• Drugs have been used for millenia eg opium
  poppies used in Stone age 5500 BC and earliest
  prescription dates from 3000BC also in Sumer
• Chinese medicines used from 2000BC

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Sources of Drugs

• Several main sources are
• Microorganisms eg. fungi as a source of
  antibiotics
• Plants eg opium, atropine, digitalis, coffee etc
• Humans and other animals, eg insulin
• Minerals eg Iron
• Partly or completely synthesized in laboratories

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Safety of Drugs

• There is a belief that natural products are
  safer/less toxic than synthesized drugs but if
  you think about mercury, botulinum toxin,
  arsenic, strychnine, just to name a few
  naturally-occurring chemicals, this idea can be
  seen to be false.
• All chemicals/drugs must have their safety
  examined

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Drug schedules

• The National Drugs and Poisons Schedule Committee
  recommends the classification of drugs and
  poisons into the 9 possible classifications.
• This is not fixed and is up-dated eavery 2 months

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Unclassified

• These are substances which do not require any
  controls
• Eg antacids, laxatives, infant formulae, contact
  lens products

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Schedule 1

• Not currently used was previously used for drugs
  requiring proof of age, identity and signature of
  purchaser

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Schedule 2 Labelled Pharmacy Medicine

• Available only from pharmacies and a pharmacists
  advice is available if required
• Includes antihistamines, cold preparations, mild
  analgesics, etc

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Schedule 3Labelled Pharmacist only Medicine

• Available only from pharmacist, medical, dental,
  or veterinary practitioner but without need for
  prescription
• Safe use requires professional advice and storage
  must not be accessible to public

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Schedule 4

• Labelled Prescription only medicine or animal
  remedy. Must be used or supplied only with a
  prescription and must be stored in a dispensary.
• Includes all new drugs, antibiotics,
  antidepressants, hormones and hormonal
  contraceptives (excluding for emergency
  contraception when they can be supplied under S3)
  vaccines and most injections, etc

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Schedule 5

• Labelled Caution
• Domestic/Household Type Poisons, Hazardous
  Substances etc
• Must not be supplied in a drink or food container

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Schedule 6

• Labelled Caution or Poison
• Chemicals with greater potential for harm than S5
  requiring extra storage and warning labels. Egs
  Household and garden pesticides

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Schedule 7

• Poisons (Dangerous Agricultural/Industrial
  Poisons
• Require a permit to buy and special precautions
  needed to manufacture, store and use.
• Egs arsenic, strychnine commercial pesticides

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Schedule 8

• Labelled Controlled Drug
• Substances which may produce addiction or
  dependence. Possession without authority is
  illegal.
• Egs Opioids, CNS stimulants

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Schedule 9

• Labelled Prohibited Substances
• Egs. Heroin and most recreational drugs

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Causes of death in US per annum
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The good, the bad and the ugly

• Good
• eg antibiotics, vaccines, insulin, anti-rejection
  drugs, anti-neoplastic drufs
• Bad
• Eg side effects, fatalities, dependency,
  over-prescription, imbalances, magic bullet
  mentality

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The Ugly

• Narcotics and other drugs have developed based on
  therapeutic medication
• Promotion of drugs via unethical means
• Accusations of profiteering by drug companies
• Inequitable prioritising of drugs by some
  governments