ANSWERS

1. Define pharmacy.
   Pharmacy is defined as the art of comparing, compounding and dispensing medicines. (The pharmacy is also the place where drugs are stored and dispensed).
2. Define dispensing.
   Dispensing is the distribution of drugs from the pharmacy to a patient under the veterinary surgeon's care. This may be on the premises or at a pharmacy on receipt of a prescription.
3. What is meant by a prescription?
   Written directions to a pharmacist by the veterinary surgeon to supply medication.
4. Define pharmacology.
   The science of drugs referring primarily to their actions within the body. It contains 2 subgroups:
   Pharmacodynamics = The way in which the functions of the body are affected by drugs.
   Pharmacokinetics = The way in which drugs are absorbed, metabolised and excreted by the body.
5. Describe the difference between side effects and toxic actions.
   Side effects are consequent effects produced by a drug in addition to those for which they are principally employed. They are not necessarily harmful, unlike toxic actions that are side effects of an injurious nature.
6. What is meant by the generic name of a drug?
   The generic name of a drug is the official name given to a particular medicinal substance. You may also hear this referred to as the approved name.
7. What is meant by the proprietary name of a drug?
   The proprietary name of a drug is the trade name or brand name of a particular medicinal substance.
8. Why might a drug with a low therapeutic index be more dangerous than one with a high therapeutic index?
   The therapeutic index is the ratio between a drug dose causing toxic effects and a drug dose causing the desired curative effect. A low ratio would therefore mean that a smaller margin of error would exist, thus increasing the risk of an over-dose.
9. What is the Cascade System?
   The Cascade System is a method employed by the veterinary business to ensure that drugs licensed for animal use are dispensed in preference to those licensed for human use. For example, if the steroid Prednisolone were to be dispensed, veterinary surgeons would be required by law to prescribe Prednicare (licensed for animal use) in preference to the human Prednisolone preparation. Exceptions to the rule may be made in extenuating circumstances. This means that human medicines may be used in cases where it may be proven that the animal would benefit significantly more from the administration of a non-licensed product over one licensed for animal use.
10. What is meant by therapeutics?
    Therapeutics is a term that describes the use of drugs in the treatment of disease or the manipulation of physiological functions using an understanding of both the disease process and the pharmacology.
11. What is an empirical treatment?
    An empirical treatment is one based upon experience and not upon scientific reasoning.
12. What is meant by complimentary medicine?
    This is a broad term describing therapeutic techniques used in addition or alternatively to conventional veterinary treatment. Examples include homeopathy and acupuncture.