What is pharmacology?

The word ‘pharmacology’ comes from the ancient Greek words ‘pharmakon’ (meaning ‘drug’) and ‘logia’ (meaning ’knowledge of’).

Pharmacologists are scientists and medical doctors who research how medicines work; explore how different drugs and chemicals have an effect on our bodies; and try to find or develop new medicines. They also use their understanding of how different medicines work to ensure that they are used safely and effectively to treat patients. They make a difference in people's lives every day.

Is pharmacology the same as pharmacy?

While they may sound similar, pharmacology and pharmacy are different things. Pharmacy is the science and technique of preparing the drugs that have been developed and researched by pharmacologists. You might see pharmacists working at a local pharmacy, a doctor's surgery, or a hospital. They can give out medicines and share advice to keep patients healthy.

Why is pharmacology important?

Pharmacology helps people around the world to live healthier lives for longer.

You can find pharmacology everywhere, such as when you visit the dentist and have an injection to numb your mouth, or when you take medicine for a headache. Pharmacologists created hay fever tablets, antibiotics, cancer treatments, and many other medicines that millions of us use each day.

Without pharmacologists we would not be able to:

• discover new medicines to help fight diseases
• make sure that medicines are safe
• understand why some medicines work better for some people than others
• understand why some drugs cause addiction

Pharmacology is at the forefront of our fight to help ensure everyone has the opportunities to live healthy lives for longer. 

Pharmacologists around the world are currently:

• developing medicines to tackle new diseases
• identifying new treatments when old ones stop being effective
• discovering new medicines
• exploring how we can best use the medicines we already have
• tackling antibiotic resistance
• studying ageing to help us all live healthier lives for longer
• researching to make sure that medicines are effective for everyone
• helping to make sure that everyone is prescribed the right medicines for them

You can find out more about important areas of pharmacology research taking place around the world in our online magazine, Pharmacology Matters.