Читать книгу Fundamentals of Pharmacology for Children's Nurses - Группа авторов - Страница 22

Pharmacology is present in daily life, from medicines bought over the counter in shops such as decongestants, nappy rash cream and pain relief, to prescription‐only medicines including antibiotics and inhalers. Lifestyle and what we eat and drink also have an impact on our bodies and our health, which can often be categorised as drugs. This includes drinks containing cafeine, chocolate, alcohol, vitamins and minerals as well as illegal substances. Before going further into this chapter, it is useful to define the terms ‘drug’ and ‘medicine’, which are often used interchangeably in texts. Medicine can be defined as a drug or other preparation for the treatment or prevention of disease, whereas a drug is described as a medicine or other substance that can be natural or artificially made which has a physiological effect when inhaled, ingested or inserted into the body or applied topically to the skin. The definitions link to each other except that the word ‘drug’ can be used for a product not necessarily designed to treat or prevent disease.

Pharmacology can be described in its most simple terms as a science or branch of medicine that looks at all aspects of medicinal drugs, including how they are used, what effect they have on the body and how they are excreted. It is important to understand how medications work and the actions they have on the systems of the body for the safety of the people you offer care and support to. You may read the term ‘drug actions’, which is the commonly used shortened term for this.

Pharmacology has been divided into two overarching categories, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics and it is important to understand the difference (see Table 1.1). The pharmacokinetic aspect of pharmacology examines the absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion of drugs in the body. Pharmacodynamics is a more detailed scientific aspect of the molecular, biochemical and physiological effects of drugs. As a lifelong learner you will learn about and develop your understanding of the pharmacokinetics of different medications, as well as the side effects, how to manage these and how medications interact with each other. This is an important aspect of healthcare, ensuring that you are providing safe and effective care to CYP, whilst being knowledgeable in detecting side effects or contraindications and seeking further support in managing these for the safety of individual patients.