Pharmacology is subdivided into two groups; general and special. General pharmacology studies general patterns of interactions between drugs and living organisms. Special pharmacology studies individual pharmacological groups and separate drugs. In both sections main attention is paid to the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of the drugs. Information on the main drugs of each group includes indications for administration and possible side effects.
Drugs are mainly classified according to the systemic principle. They can be divided into the following groups:
- drugs, regulating the functions of the nervous system (peripheral and central);
- drugs, regulating the functions of the major organs and their systems (respiration, circulation, other);
- drugs, regulating metabolism.
Besides, there are groups of drugs, which affect such pathological processes as atherosclerosis, inflammation, allergy and blastomogenesis. A special section discusses antimicrobial and antiparasitic drugs.
Approved drug nomenclature conforms to the State Pharmacopoeia. However, considering the absence of unification of drug names in different countries, one should be aware of the international nonproprietary names and more often synonyms used (trade names).