History of Pharmacy

Summary

This script offers a comprehensive history of pharmacy, from ancient practices in Egypt and Greece to modern advancements in the United States. It covers key figures like Imhotep and Hippocrates, significant publications like the United States Pharmacopoeia, and important legislation such as the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. The script also discusses various pharmacy settings and the evolution of drug regulations, emphasizing the profession's growth and impact on healthcare.

Takeaways

• 💊 **Pharmacy Defined**: Pharmacy is the practice of preparing, preserving, compounding, and dispensing medical drugs.
• 🧪 **Apothecary**: An apothecary is a druggist or pharmacist, historically known as a drugstore of pharmacy.
• 👨‍⚕️ **Pharmacy Technician**: A healthcare provider who performs pharmacy-related functions under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist.
• 📚 **Pharmacology**: The study of drugs, including their properties, uses, applications, and effects.
• 🌿 **Ancient Beginnings**: Pharmacy's origins trace back to 3000 BC with Imhotep in ancient Egypt, establishing early medical practices.
• 📜 **Papyrus Ebers**: A scroll from 1500 BC listed over 800 prescriptions, showcasing early drug formulations.
• 🏛️ **Hippocrates**: A Greek physician in 400 BC who established early medical practices and the Hippocratic oath.
• 📖 **US Pharmacopoeia**: Founded in 1820, it set standards for drug manufacturing in the United States.
• 🏫 **Philadelphia College of Pharmacy**: Established in 1821, it published the American Journal of Pharmacy in 1825.
• 🔬 **American Pharmaceutical Association**: Founded in 1852, now known as the American Pharmacists Association (APhA), it's a leading professional body for pharmacists.
• 📈 **Pharmacy Laws**: By 1878, nine states had pharmacy laws, leading to the establishment of Boards of Pharmacy to regulate pharmacy practice.
• 📚 **Remington's Practice of Pharmacy**: First published in 1885, it became a standard text and is still widely used.
• 💉 **Milestone Drugs**: Quinine, cocaine, digitalis, penicillin, insulin, and salicylic acid are significant discoveries in medicine.
• 🚫 **Drug Regulations**: The Food and Drug Act of 1906 prohibited interstate commerce of adulterated food and drugs.
• 🏥 **Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)**: Enacted in 1996, it provides regulations to protect patient privacy.
• 🏢 **Types of Pharmacy**: Community, hospital, clinical, ambulatory care, compounding, internet, mail-order, veterinary, nuclear, military, pharmacy informatics, and specialty pharmacy are various settings where pharmacy practice occurs.

Q & A

What is the definition of pharmacy?

Pharmacy is the art, practice, or profession of preparing, preserving, compounding, and dispensing medical drugs.

What is the role of an apothecary?

An apothecary is a druggist or pharmacist who was historically responsible for preparing and dispensing medicinal drugs.

What is the job of a pharmacy technician?

A pharmacy technician is a healthcare provider who performs pharmacy-related functions generally under the direct supervision of a licensed pharmacist.

What is pharmacology?

Pharmacology is the study of drugs, their properties, uses, application, and effects.

Who was the first to establish official medical healing practices?

Imhotep, the god of medicine and a priest and physician to ancient Egypt, was the first to establish official medical healing practices around 3000 BC.

What is significant about the Papyrus Ebers?

The Papyrus Ebers, written around 1500 BC, is significant because it listed over 800 prescriptions using 700 verbal remedies.

Who established practices of treating patients and the Hippocratic oath?

Hippocrates, a Greek physician around 400 BC, established practices of treating patients and also established physician conduct which included the Hippocratic oath.

When was the United States Pharmacopoeia founded and what was its purpose?

The United States Pharmacopoeia was founded in 1820 with the purpose of creating standards for manufacturing drugs.

What is the American Pharmacists Association (APHA) and when was it founded?

The American Pharmacists Association (APHA), originally known as the American Pharmaceutical Association, was founded in 1852 and is the first established and largest professional association of pharmacists in the United States.

What is the significance of the Food and Drug Act of 1906?

The Food and Drug Act of 1906 prohibited interstate commerce of adulterated or misbranded food, drinks, and drugs, and required government pre-approval of drugs.

What does the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) do?

The Controlled Substances Act (CSA) classifies drugs that may be easily abused and restricts their distribution, enforced by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

What are the different types of pharmacy settings mentioned in the script?

The script mentions community pharmacy, hospital pharmacy, clinical pharmacy, ambulatory care pharmacy, compounding pharmacy, internet pharmacy, mail-order pharmacy, veterinary pharmacy, nuclear pharmacy, military pharmacy, pharmacy informatics, and specialty pharmacy as different types of pharmacy settings.