Pharmacology is concerned with the study of drug action; a drug can be broadly defined as any man-made, natural, or endogenous molecule which exerts a biochemical or physiological effect on the cell, tissue, organ, or organism. Pharmaceuticals are usually a combination of one or more these factors.
A contraindication is a condition or factor that serves as a reason to withhold a certain medical treatment due to the harm that it would cause the patient; indication is the reason medical practitioners administer specific drugs to patients.
In pharmacology, any unexpected or dangerous reaction to a drug is considered an adverse effect; an unwanted effect caused by the drug’s administration.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is a federal agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, one of the United States federal executive departments.
As consumers, it’s important to note the number of drug recalls that occur each year as this puts into question the effectiveness of the process that drug manufacturers undertake to bring a drug into the marketplace.