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Pharmacy and pharmacology

Lamalam

Whats the difference between pharmacy and pharmacology?

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Reply 1

thegodofgod

Original post by Lamalam

Whats the difference between pharmacy and pharmacology?

Posted from TSR Mobile

Pharmacology is a basic science subject; it is the study of drugs. It is split in to 2 main divisions: pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. The former is often described as 'what the body does to the drug' (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion (aka ADME)), and the latter is described as 'what the drug does to the body' (things like mechanisms of action, efficacy, good effects, side effects. etc.).

Pharmacy, on the other hand, encompasses pharmacology along with other basic sciences, such as biochemistry, anatomy, physiology, pathology, pathophysiology, formulation sciences, as well as communication skills. Communication skills is a large component of pharmacy, as pharmacy students become pharmacists post-graduation and after their registration to the General Pharmaceutical Council, and pharmacists have a lot of patient interaction. They recommend different treatments and ensure that the treatments that doctors have prescribed are safe.

In summary, pharmacology is a basic science, whereas pharmacy is a collection of basic sciences with patient interaction. As an industrial pharmacist, you may end up being in the research & development (R&D) department of a pharmaceutical company, where you may be working as a pharmacologist in order to study the effects of drugs on the body. This means that a qualified pharmacist can work as a pharmacologist, but a pharmacologist cannot work as a qualified pharmacist.

Hope this helps.