Introduction / Overview Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) represents a group of progressive lung disorders, primarily chronic bronchitis and emphysema, that impose a substantial burden on public health worldwide. The therapeutic landscape has evolved toward combination regimens that target airway inflammation, bronchoconstriction, and mucus hypersecretion. An understanding of drug pharmacology is essential for clinicians and…
Introduction / Overview Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways characterized by episodic bronchoconstriction, mucus hypersecretion, and airway remodeling. The prevalence of asthma has increased globally, with significant morbidity and mortality associated with exacerbations. Pharmacologic therapy remains the cornerstone of disease management, aiming to relieve acute symptoms, reduce airway hyperresponsiveness, and prevent long‑term…
Introduction/Overview Bronchodilators constitute a pivotal class of therapeutics employed in the management of obstructive airway diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and bronchospastic disorders. Their primary objective is to alleviate bronchoconstriction by relaxing airway smooth muscle, thereby improving airflow and reducing respiratory distress. In clinical practice, bronchodilators are frequently used in acute…
Introduction and Overview Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5‑HT) is a central neurotransmitter that modulates numerous physiological processes, including mood, cognition, nociception, gastrointestinal motility, and vascular tone. The diversity of 5‑HT receptors—over 14 subtypes grouped into seven families (5‑HT1 to 5‑HT7)—has fostered the development of a wide spectrum of pharmacologic agents that act as agonists, partial agonists, antagonists,…
Introduction and Overview Prostaglandins and related eicosanoids represent a diverse class of bioactive lipids that arise from arachidonic acid metabolism. Their involvement in physiological and pathological processes—ranging from vascular tone regulation to inflammatory responses—has rendered them central to both basic science research and clinical therapeutics. The clinical relevance of these mediators is underscored by the…
Introduction / Overview Antihistamines constitute a pivotal class of therapeutics widely employed in the management of allergic disorders and various other clinical conditions. Their relevance extends from routine outpatient care to specialized inpatient settings, underscoring the necessity for a thorough understanding of their pharmacological profiles among medical and pharmacy trainees. The following learning objectives may…
Introduction/Overview Gout is a metabolic disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of acute arthritis precipitated by monosodium urate crystal deposition within joints and periarticular tissues. The pathophysiology hinges on hyperuricosuria and impaired renal excretion of urate, culminating in serum urate concentrations that exceed the solubility threshold. Chronic hyperuricemia predisposes individuals to tophi formation and joint destruction,…
Introduction/Overview Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic systemic autoimmune disorder characterized by persistent synovial inflammation, progressive joint destruction, and extra‑articular manifestations. The therapeutic goal is to halt disease progression, achieve remission or low disease activity, and preserve functional status. Disease‑modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) are the cornerstone of RA management, acting through a variety of immunomodulatory…
Introduction / Overview Non‑steroidal anti‑inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) constitute a broad class of medications that are widely employed to mitigate pain, reduce inflammation, and lower fever. Because of their extensive use across primary, secondary, and tertiary care settings, a comprehensive understanding of NSAID pharmacology is essential for both clinicians and pharmacists. This monograph aims to provide…
Introduction/Overview Hematopoietic growth factors constitute a class of biologically active proteins that regulate the proliferation, differentiation, and survival of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. Their therapeutic exploitation has revolutionized the management of various hematologic and non‑hematologic conditions that involve impaired blood cell production or recovery after cytotoxic therapies. The clinical relevance of these agents is…