They integrate the information of many scientific disciplines including chemistry , cell biology and physiology in order to solve drug and chemical-related problems that affect human health. A working knowledge of pharmacology is also important to the practice of all medical professionals including physicians, pharmacists, nurses, dentists and veterinarians. Pharmacology coursework is required for each of these disciplines. Pharmacology is often confused with pharmacy. Pharmacy focuses on the preparation, compounding, and dispensing of drugs.
Pharmacists frequently assist physicians in drug selection and monitoring.
They do not determine the mechanism by which a drug or toxin acts, but they utilize the information that is provided by pharmacologists. Pharmacodynamics is the study of the molecular and physiological effects of drugs on cellular systems and their mechanisms of action. A variety of responses to a drug can be measured on a scale as large as a change in blood pressure to one as small as the change in gene expression or the opening of an ion channel . Phamacokinetics Pharmacokinetics studies the way in which the body handles drugs. This includes absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion of the drug.