• University of Phoenix
    As the leading online school in the nation, Phoneix University offers various pharmacology online courses to take in your own time.
  • KAPLAN University
    One of the largest online universities with a widely recognized name, Kaplan University offers a myriad of online pharmacology courses that fit your schedule.
What the FDA Amendments Act of 2007 Means to You
by admin on: February 26th, 2011
A recent publication from the Journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence reviews the implications of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Amendments Act of 2007 (FDAAA). According to the authors, the focus of the FDAAA is to ensure the safety of the pharmaceutical products released by companies by further requiring each company to maintain a higher degree of pharmacovigilance (detection, assessment, understanding, and prevention of adverse effects of short- and long-term effects of drugs, through continuous...
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Five Routes of Drug Administration
by admin on: February 24th, 2011
Pharmacokinetics is the branch of pharmacology that deals with what happens to a drug when it is administered or ingested. The effects of a medicine or drug are influenced by the method that the drug enters the body, and often a given drug may be available in different forms or preparations. There are five distinct methods for taking a medicine or drug. These methods are: (1) topical administration, (2) inhalation, (3) oral administration, (4) injection, and (5) rectal administration. Topical administration...
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There a Difference in Pharmacology of Generic and Name Brand Drugs?
by admin on: February 22nd, 2011
Generally speaking a “name brand,” or proprietary drug, is more expensive than a generic drug. For example, if you wanted to buy medicine to treat a headache, you could buy Tylenol or a generic supermarket brand of acetaminophen. Tylenol will almost always be more expensive than the generic drug. Why? Historically, the pharmaceutical company that produces the drug spent a great deal of money in developing the drug. In fact, it may take over ten years before testing each drug is complete,...
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New Class of Drugs to Treat Insomnia?
by admin on: February 20th, 2011
Most adults have experienced a period of sleeplessness or insomnia. In fact, as many of 30-50% of the general population may experience insomnia at one time or another. Insomnia is often described as a difficulty falling asleep or remaining asleep, and it is thought that particular chemicals in the brain are involved in regulating our sleep cycles. The neurotransmitter serotonin (also known by the chemical name 5-Hydroxytryptamine, or the abbreviation 5-HT) has often been implicated in the regulation...
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Pills and Programming: 3 Notable TV Moments
by admin on: February 18th, 2011
Television sitcoms often deal with serious issues by injecting them with a good dose of humor. Often, sitcom episodes use prescription drugs as a backdrop, and surround the issue with character interactions and realities concerning drugs and medicines. While the real consequences can be quite serious, these shows deftly negotiate the story lines without the adverse effects. Below are three classic episodes from sitcoms that show the lighter side of prescription drugs. King of Queens: “Papa...
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Ginkgo Biloba: Is there Evidence for Preventing Cognitive Decline?
by admin on: February 16th, 2011
Ginkgo Biloba, or simply “Ginkgo,” is an herbal supplement that has been used to enhance or improve memory, belay the onset of memory disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, as well as to treat circulatory disorders by improving circulation of the blood by dilating blood vessels. However, a longitudinal study has called into question whether this herbal supplement actually prevents cognitive decline as seen in cases of dementia or age-related decline in cognitive function. Dr. Steven...
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New Findings Regarding Antidepressant Medications
by admin on: February 14th, 2011
Depression is an illness that may affect as many as 10% of adults. In addition to abnormal functioning of the brain, depression is also thought to result from an imbalance of chemicals in the brain. An article published in the January 6, 2010 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) states that antidepressant medication can be very effective in patients diagnosed with severe depression, however, these same drugs are not very effective in patients diagnosed with less severe...
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Is Intranasal Zicam Safe?
by admin on: February 12th, 2011
In June of 2009, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) submitted a news release advising consumers that the use of certain Zicam products may result in the loss of smell (ansomnia). According to the frequently asked questions section at the Zicam homepage, Zicam is available in a number of different preparations and is advertised as being an over-the-counter (OTC) medicine that shortens the duration and severity of the common cold when it is taken at the first sign of a cold. Because Zicam is considered...
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Treatments for Migraine Headaches
by admin on: February 10th, 2011
A recent study published in the scientific journal Neurological Sciences states there is a strong genetic component that contributes to the disorder of migraines. Migraines result from a impairment (dysfunction) of sensory processing systems, and often have symptoms including a headache, sensitivity to certain smells (osmophobia), a fear/avoidance of loud sounds (phonophobia), a sensitivity to light (photophobia), and general feelings of nausea. Early theories of the etiology of migraines linked...
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Understanding the “Placebo Effect”
by admin on: February 8th, 2011
In order to determine the validity of a “test drug??? or medication, it is necessary that a group of subjects undergo a similar set of treatments as the “test group,??? with the exception that they do not receive the “est drug or medication. Rather, these subjects (the control group) receive a placebo, which may resemble the actual test drug, but does not contain active ingredient(s). Placebos are administered in order to compare the efficacy of a drug versus the results from subjects...
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