blog




  • Essay / Origins of drugs, their nature, chemistry and effects

    Pharmacology being derived from two Greek words "pharmakon" which illustrates medicine and "logos" which illustrates study, are simply combined to give a definition as the study of drugs. (Michael Adams, Norman Holland and Carol Urban, 2017). Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get Original Essay Starting today, people have become more dependent on conventional drugs, without knowing the harm they can cause, as they only provide short-term relief. However, the study of drugs is a much broader perspective. Therefore, in the body of this essay, the discussion on the origins of drugs, their nature, their chemistry, their effects and their uses will be more fully broken down and elaborated. First and foremost, drugs are defined as any substance that affects the structure or function of a living organism. It is widely used for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases as well as for symptom relief. (Oxford Dictionary of Nursing, 2014) Then, as medicines come in various forms and varieties, they also come from various sources discovered long ago by medical experts. Some of the major sources of drugs are from human, semi-synthetic, synthetic and natural sources. However, natural sources of medicines are further classified into specific categories such as animals, microorganisms, minerals and plants. Additionally, natural sources via plants are known to include roots, bark, leaves and seeds; for example, aspirin, the medicine used to treat fever, came from willow bark. Animal source is another method by which medicine is extracted and manufactured to cure diseases and test the susceptibility of bacteria and viruses. For example ; the pig's pancreas provides insulin to diabetic patients who can no longer produce insulin. The source of microorganisms may include certain fungi, bacteria or molds which can produce important drugs. For example, the drug penicillin is made from a microorganism called penicillium notatum. And medicines obtained from minerals are those which are used to treat illnesses and other serious illnesses as part of drug therapy. As an illustration, the mineral ferrous sulfate (FeSo4) is used to treat an anemic patient who is iron deficient. Likewise, a synthetic source is one in which most drugs are made in a laboratory. These drugs can be produced with much higher yield and are considered safe drugs. For example, diphenoxylate is an antidiarrheal drug. In addition to the semi-synthetic source obtained by modifying the chemical structure of natural drugs, for example streptomycin is derived from penicillin. Additionally, each drug must have three special names: a chemical name, a generic or common name, and a trade or proprietary name. Firstly, the chemical name is given based on the chemical properties and composition of the drug, also representing the nature of the drug. For example, the chemical name for diazepam is 7-chloro-, 3-dihydro-1-methyl-5-phenyl-2H-. 1,4-benzodiazepam-2-one. Secondly, the generic name, which is known as a fixed name known throughout the world, is obtained from the chemical name of the drug, but it usually appears shorter and easier to remember. An example of a drug with its generic name could be aspirin.Third, the trade name of the drug is given by the company that manufactures it, for example, one of the trade names of diphenhydramine is called Benadryl. Additionally, every medication that the body receives through different administrations is bound to be absorbed by the body. Therefore, absorption is known to be a stage in which substances begin to move, from the site of administration, through the body's membranes and into the body fluids where it can be transported throughout the body. It is the first factor that represents the time it takes for the drug to show its pharmacokinetic effects. Nevertheless, absorption presents certain factors that interfere with its working process such as drug formulation and dose. This is when the type of medication determines the rate of its absorption property for example; liquid medications have faster absorption properties than capsules. Second, dosage, where absorption is believed to occur primarily when doses of the drug are high, creating a rapid effect rather than when doses are low. Third, the route of administration by which drugs administered IV are absorbed more quickly because they are delivered directly into the bloodstream. The size of the drug molecule is another factor that affects absorption. When certain drug molecules appear larger, they tend to delay their absorption into the body compared to smaller molecules. In addition, the surface area of ​​the absorption site affects the absorption, the larger the surface area of ​​the absorption site. the faster the absorption of the drug. Another is blood flow, which is when blood flow in the administered site causes rapid absorption and finally, lipid solubility of the drug. Because fat-soluble drugs are absorbed more quickly, soluble drugs are not. Additionally, drug delivery is a means and manner of administering medicines to cure diseases. There are therefore eleven possible ways to administer them to clients. Intravenous, intramuscular, intranasal, transdermal, rectal, vaginal, parenteral, intradermal, nebulizer and inhaler and topical administration. (Galbraith. A, Bullock. S, Manias. E, 2004) To begin with, medications administered intravenously are known to have a rapid effect because the medication is directly infused into the bloodstream. Additionally, in case of rapid change in adverse effects, the procedure can be stopped before the blood level is disturbed. An example of a medication administered IV is the antibiotic cloxacillin, where it is diluted in the IV port and administered to the client. Intramuscular administration is the injection given to specific muscles due to good blood supply. This allows for a much faster rate of absorption, for example, penicillin is administered by IM injection. Intranasal administration helps relieve nasal congestion in colds. However, some medications are administered intranasally, such as vasopressin. Due to the mucous membrane present in the nasal cavity, absorption takes place. Additionally, transdermal delivery involves using the epidermal layer of the body to deliver drugs. The advantage of such administration is therefore that the drugs can avoid the first pass effect in the liver and allow digestive enzymes to pass through. A medication administered transdermally may be nicotine, which helps a person quit smoking. Rectal is another way of administering medications and is known to be the safest way to administer medications. Despite its.