Defines pharmacology and its relevance in developing medications to combat various diseases.

• Pharmacology is the study of drugs and their interactions with living systems.
• It encompasses the effects of chemical compounds from molecules to whole organisms.
• New medications are constantly being created to treat infections, cancer, heart failure, and depression.

Explains the three-step process of developing new medications, from discovery through pre-clinical research to clinical trials.

• Discovery involves identifying a potential therapeutic agent for a disease.
• Pre-clinical research tests the compound on cell cultures and animals to assess safety.
• Clinical development is comprised of clinical trials in humans to confirm safety and efficacy.

Describes the four phases of clinical trials for medication approval using a mnemonic.

• Phase one tests medication safety in healthy individuals.
• Phase two evaluates effectiveness at certain doses in affected individuals.
• Phase three compares the new medication to standard treatment in a larger group.
• Phase four involves post-market safety surveillance for long-term or rare side effects.

Outlines how medications are named chemically, generically, and by brand.

• Medications have a chemical name describing their structure, used in scientific studies.
• The generic name is a simplified version of the chemical name used by health professionals.
• Brand or trade names are given by pharmaceutical companies that manufacture the medication.

Differentiates between pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics and their roles in drug interactions.

• Pharmacokinetics is the study of how the body processes a medication (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion).
• Pharmacodynamics involves how a medication affects the body, including its beneficial and side effects.
• An ideal medication would produce a single therapeutic effect; most, however, have additional side effects.

Defines therapeutic index and explains drug interactions at pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic levels.

• The therapeutic index compares the toxic dose to the effective dose and indicates medication safety.
• Medications with a low therapeutic index require close monitoring.
• Drug interactions can alter a medication's concentration or enhance or counteract each other's effects.