NORTHERN CARIBBEAN UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF ALLIED HEALTH AND NURSING DEPARTMENT OF NURSING NRSG206: PHARMACOLOGY 1

HISTORICAL TRENDS
Primitive people- believed that diseases was caused by evil spirits living in the body 3000 BC- Oldest prescriptions were found on clay tablet written by a Sumerian physician 600-700 BC- Asclepius Greek god of healing; combined healing and religion in a temple setting. His family represented health or medical ideas. Epione wife soothed pain. Daughters- Hyseia-goddess of health represented the prevention of diseases; Panaceia-represented treatment (Rx). 5th century BC- Hippocrates( Father of medicine)-advanced the idea that disease results from natural causes and could only be understood through a study of natural laws. 400 1580 AD- Fall of Roman Empire. People reverted to folklore medicine. Religious orders built monasteries to be used as learning sites (medicine & pharmacy). Arabs- interested in medicine and pharmacology- built hospitals. Formulated the 1st set of drug standards 1240AD Emperor Fredrick II declared pharmacy different from medicine. Pharmacy was not established separately until the 16th century when Valerius Cordus wrote 1st pharmacopoeia, printed as the authoritative standard. 1493 1541- Paracelsus- improved pharmacy and therapeutics for many centuries. He introduced new remedies and reduced overdosing which was prevalent. 1618- 1st London Pharmacopeia was introduced. Medicinal preparations used then are still in use today. E.g. opium & coca 1818- 1st important national pharmacopeia (The French Codex) 1820- US Pharmacopeia 1864- Great Britain Pharmacopeia 1872- Germany th 19 Century- Drug dosage and knowledge of their expected action became more precise. Study of accurate dosages led to establishment of large scale manufacturing plants for the production of drugs. Allopathic medicine (evidence-based practice of medicine) replaced empiricism. 21st century- redefinition of professional roles with emphasis on providing quality health care in a cost effective manner Complementary/alternative therapies- for health promotion and Rx of illnesses. Includes different techniques- herbal preparations, acupuncture aromatherapy, and therapeutic touch. In terms of restorative care- drug therapy remains the mainstay. Current and projected trends results in - Expansion of consumer education- healthcare consumer will be asking for more information. - Research- expansion in treatment and cures. Incentive to develop drugs for persons suffering from rare chronic diseases.

Orphan Drugs Products used to treat rare diseases affecting fewer than 200,000 persons. Orphan drug Act- signed into law in the USA on January 4, 1983.

Examples of Major Drug Discoveries Drug Time Comments Period Opium tincture,coca 17th Important drugs; still used today (cocaine), & ipecac century Digitalis 1785 Cardiac medication; source of digoxin Smallpox vaccine 1796 Important vaccine in its time; considered eradicated in 1980 by WHO; potential bioterrorism risk today Morphine 1815 Analgesic derived from opium, used to treat severe pain th Quinine, atropine, 19 Available today codeine century Ether & Chloroform 1840s 1st general anaesthetic, rare or obsolete today Insulin 1922 Important discovery for treatment of Diabetes Mellitus Heparin 1942 Anticoagulant; decreased postpartum and postsurgical deaths related to immobility Penicillin Mid Revolutionized treatment of microbial infections; 1940s precursor of many other antibiotics Cortisone 1949 Important hormone from adrenal gland cortex; also synthetically prepared Phenothiazines Mid 1st psychotherapeutic agents; revolutionized the care 1950s for the mentally ill Polio Vaccines 1955,196 Inactivated and live oral poliovirus vaccine; 1 significant in the eradication of polio epidemics Oral Contraceptives Late Chemical similar to natural oestrogen and 1950s progesterone hormones Early Benzodiazepines 1960s Sedative and antianxiety medication Antiviral Mid Useful for the prophylaxis and treatment of viral 1970s diseases H2 blockers Mid Antiulcer drugs; decrease the need for gastric surgery 1970s AZT 1987 1ST Antiretroviral agent for HIV HIV Protease 1996 Potent class of antiretroviral agents; dramatically inhibitor reduce HIV-related mortality when used in combination with other drugs Proton pump 2001 Suppress gastric acid secretion; major advance in the inhibitors treatment of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)