BIO200H5 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Pharmacokinetics, Homeostasis, Petri Dish
Document Summary
Pharmacology traditional definition the science of pharmacological agents. Not part of the normal diet, which affects an organism"s physiology: broad definition a substance that has any effects. Pharmacon/xenobiotic: narrow definition a substance that has desired effects. In relation to vitamins and minerals, the dosage matters. Much higher dose when treating certain disorders; this is pharmacological dose. However, in food, the dose of vitamins and minerals is lower; this is the physiological dose. Drugs vs medicines: drug is more general term medicine is supposed to improve physiology. Drugs vs poison: drugs are supposed to retain homeostasis; change state from abnormal to normal, a poison or toxin takes you out of homeostasis; changes internal state from normal to abnormal. Antiseptics: usually considered drugs even though don"t enter bloodstream. Any drug in excess becomes a poison. For example, if a drug is designed to raise blood pressure, and too much of it is taken, may cause problems such as hypertension.
