Why Studying Pharmacology is So Important for Aspiring Doctors

1. Why Studying Pharmacology is So Important for Aspiring Doctors To put it as simply as possible, pharmacology is the branch of medicine that looks at how various drugs affect the human body. Because so many conditions can be treated, managed, or even cured with drugs, it’s vital to understand them. That’s why pharmacology is such a critical area of study for aspiring doctors - it is critical for helping them treat their patients. Pharmacology in the Everyday World Every single day, people all around the world fall back on their knowledge of pharmacology to treat themselves. If someone has hay fever, for example, they might head to the drug store for some diphenhydramine, which is an antihistamine used to treat itchy eyes, sneezing, runny nose, and other symptoms caused by allergens. If a child has a fever, the parents know they should give that child acetaminophen or ibuprofen to bring the temperature down. Every single day, people utilize pharmacology to help themselves (and their children) feel better, but medical students need a much more thorough understanding of drugs and how they work in order to treat a variety of complex conditions. What Students Learn when Studying Pharmacology Medical students study pharmacology for several reasons. Understanding how and why certain drugs work in the body is only the tip of the iceberg. A doctor must also be able to: ●Choose an effective dose. Whereas some medication dosages are based almost solely on the severity of symptoms or illness, others may be dosed based upon the patient’s weight, tolerance to that medication, or the potential for interactions with other medicines. Without a full understanding of pharmacology, choosing an effective dose based on these factors can be virtually impossible. ●Understand the potential for medication interactions. Many medications can interact with one another (and even with everyday foods), and they can do so in different ways. For example, if a patient is taking contraceptives and a doctor prescribes antibiotics, that patient must be made aware that the antibiotics may interfere with the effectiveness of the contraceptives. A food as simple as grapefruit juice can drastically increase the potency of certain drugs in the body, and serotonin syndrome can occur if patients receive too many drugs that increase serotonin levels in the body. It’s important for these things to be addressed and avoided wherever necessary. ●Warn their patients of potential side effects. Virtually every medication has at least some sort of side effect, especially when it is not utilized according to directions. Doctors must be able to fully understand the potential side effects of drugs in the human body in order to properly treat their patients. ●Understand which medications may be contraindicated in certain patients. Pharmacology is also important for ensuring that doctors only prescribe the right medications to individual patients based on their individual needs, illnesses, and symptoms. For example, if a patient has reduced liver function, taking medications as simple as acetaminophen for a headache can cause serious or even life-threatening problems. When studying for your medical licensing examination, remember that pharmacology is a critically important branch of study that deserves plenty of your time and attention. Understanding the wide variety of drugs available to you and how they can affect individual patients based on their size, weight, needs, current medications, and underlying conditions will allow you to treat them as thoroughly, safely, and effectively as possible.