Pharmacology
The study of drugs, their sources, their nature, and their properties. Pharmacology is the study of the body’s reaction to drugs. It emerged as a major area in American medicine largely due to the efforts of John Jacob Abel (1857- 1938) who stressed the importance of chemistry in medicine, did research on the endocrine glands, first isolated epinephrine (adrenaline), crystallized insulin (1926), and became the first pharmacology professor in the U.S.
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- Pharmacopeia
An official authoritative listing of medications. Some countries, such as the UK, establish official pharmacopeias, as do some medical groups and health maintenance organizations (HMOs).
- Pharmacopoeia
An official authoritative listing of drugs. Aspirin has, for example, long been in the pharmacopoeia. By extension, a pharmacopoeia is a collection or stock of drugs.
- Pharmacy
A location where prescription medications are sold. A pharmacy is constantly supervised by a licensed pharmacist.
- Pharmacy benefit manager
A company under contract with managed care organizations, self-insured companies, and government programs to manage pharmacy network management, drug utilization review, outcomes management, and disease management. A pharmacy benefit manager may, for example, fill drug prescriptions by mail order as part of a corporate health insurance plan. Abbreviated PBM.
- Pharmacy, compounding
A place that both makes and sells prescription medications. A compounding pharmacy can often concoct drug formulas that are specially tailored to patients (for example, liquid versions of medications that are normally available only in pill form for patients who cannot swallow pills).