3 Facts - What is Pharmacology?

Pharmacology is a branch of medicine that studies drugs and their effects on the body. Courses in pharmacology will involve creating new chemical substances to analyze the effects of medicinal compounds while understanding the benefits and effects of drugs. Pharmacology is also responsible for studying the effects of caffeine, antibiotics and painkillers on the body.

The subject will include elements of biology, chemistry, physiology and toxicology as it is a broad scientific field that can be applicable to many careers in the life sciences industry. Ultimately, the role of pharmacology is to understand why drugs affect the human body the way they do, so that researchers are able to develop better drugs.

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Pharmacy vs Pharmacology

Although similar in name, it’s important to be able to differentiate between courses of pharmacy and pharmacology. Pharmacy involves the science of medicinal drugs, studying the preparation, formulation and dispensing of drugs, and focuses on helping candidates obtain licenses to dispense prescription medicines in pharmacies. Pharmacology, on the other hand, is the study of sources, uses and actions of drugs. It is divided into two major branches;

  • Pharmacokinetics, which refers to the distribution, absorption, metabolism and excretion of drugs (i.e, what the body does to drugs)
  • Pharmacodynamics, which refers to the biochemical, molecular and physiological effects that drugs have on the body (i.e, what drugs do to the body)

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Pharmacology is important in the field of medicine. It is responsible for discovering new medicines to fight diseases, improving the effectiveness of current medicine, reducing unwanted side effects and understanding why certain individuals react to drugs differently and what causes addiction.

Entry Requirements

In order to study pharmacology at a university level, you will need to show proof of having studied chemistry and biology, and either physics or mathematics. You may also need good grades for subjects such as mathematics and English.

What can you do with a degree in Pharmacology?

A degree in pharmacology can lead to a variety of careers, as well as the opportunity to further your studies in the field at a Ph.D. level. These careers include;

  • Academic researcher
  • Analytical chemist
  • Biomedical scientist
  • Clinical scientist (biochemistry or immunology)
  • Higher education lecturer
  • Medicinal chemist
  • Neuroscientist
  • Pharmacologist
  • Research scientist
  • Science writer
  • Toxicologist

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