Pharmacology Chapter 1 – Introduction to Drugs
(Exam Review + Test Questions)|Rationales A+
Graded and Latest Updated 2026
Pharmacology
Study of the biological effects of chemicals
Pharmacotherapy
application of drugs for the purpose of disease and treatment of suffering
Therapeutics
Branch of medicine concerned with prevent of disease and treatment of suffering
Drug
A chemical agent capable of producing biologic responses in the body
Medication
A drug that has been administered
Biologics
Agents naturally produced in animal cells, microbes, or the body itself
Prescription Drugs
The person must receive a written order from a person of legal authority to write a prescription
Over-the-counter drugs
Drug's that clients can receive without a doctor's orders
True/False: Many drugs are prescribed for more than one disease and most produce multiple
effects within the body
True
What are the patient factors that may cause different individual responses to drugs?
sex; body mass; age; health status; genetics
Advantages to prescription drugs:
, -proper drug for the patient's diagnosis as well as the frequency and quantity
-the health care provider can properly diagnose the patient
-Health care professionals can teach the side effects of the drug to the patient
Reasons patients prefer to take OTC drugs:
-easily obtained
-no need for doctor appointment
Disadvantages to OTC's:
-choosing proper drug for a specific problem can be challenging
-OTC drugs may react with foods, other med's, etc.
-Self-treatment can be proven ineffective
The first standard of drug reference was
the formulary
Formulary
a list of drugs and drug recipies
Pharmacopoeia
a medical reference summarizing standards of drug purity, strength, and directions for synthesis
An annual publication that comes out with one main publication and two supplements a year
USP-NF
The first comprehensive publication of drug standards
U.S Pharmacopoeia (USP)
In what year did the USP-NF merge?
1975
Act that helped to standardize the quality of serums and other blood-related products
Biologics Control Act
Act that gave the government power to control the labeling of medicines
the pure food and drug act of 1906
Amendment that prohibited sale of drugs labeled with false therapeutic claims that were
intended to defraud the consumer
(Exam Review + Test Questions)|Rationales A+
Graded and Latest Updated 2026
Pharmacology
Study of the biological effects of chemicals
Pharmacotherapy
application of drugs for the purpose of disease and treatment of suffering
Therapeutics
Branch of medicine concerned with prevent of disease and treatment of suffering
Drug
A chemical agent capable of producing biologic responses in the body
Medication
A drug that has been administered
Biologics
Agents naturally produced in animal cells, microbes, or the body itself
Prescription Drugs
The person must receive a written order from a person of legal authority to write a prescription
Over-the-counter drugs
Drug's that clients can receive without a doctor's orders
True/False: Many drugs are prescribed for more than one disease and most produce multiple
effects within the body
True
What are the patient factors that may cause different individual responses to drugs?
sex; body mass; age; health status; genetics
Advantages to prescription drugs:
, -proper drug for the patient's diagnosis as well as the frequency and quantity
-the health care provider can properly diagnose the patient
-Health care professionals can teach the side effects of the drug to the patient
Reasons patients prefer to take OTC drugs:
-easily obtained
-no need for doctor appointment
Disadvantages to OTC's:
-choosing proper drug for a specific problem can be challenging
-OTC drugs may react with foods, other med's, etc.
-Self-treatment can be proven ineffective
The first standard of drug reference was
the formulary
Formulary
a list of drugs and drug recipies
Pharmacopoeia
a medical reference summarizing standards of drug purity, strength, and directions for synthesis
An annual publication that comes out with one main publication and two supplements a year
USP-NF
The first comprehensive publication of drug standards
U.S Pharmacopoeia (USP)
In what year did the USP-NF merge?
1975
Act that helped to standardize the quality of serums and other blood-related products
Biologics Control Act
Act that gave the government power to control the labeling of medicines
the pure food and drug act of 1906
Amendment that prohibited sale of drugs labeled with false therapeutic claims that were
intended to defraud the consumer
