PHARMACY TECHNICIAN Chapter One

Ancient Mesopotamia Earliest known record of apothecary practice, approximately 2,600 BCE Healers combined roles of priest, pharmacist, and physician Clay tablets recorded symptoms of illness, prescriptions, and instructions for compounding remedies

Ancient China Legendary Emperor Shen Nung researched the medicinal value of herbs, testing many of them on himself, approximately 2,000 BCE Shen Nung wrote the first Pen T-Sao, or native herbal, recording 365 drugs In modern times, Shen Nung is still worshipped as the patron god of Chinese drug guilds

Ancient Egypt Two classifications of workers: echelons and chiefs of fabrication Echelons were gatherers and preparers of drugs, similar to modern pharmacy technicians Chiefs of fabrication were the head pharmacists

Papyrus Ebers Most important ancient pharmaceutical record Written in 1,500 BCE A collection of 800 prescriptions; specifically mentions 700 unique drugs

Ancient India The Charaka Samhita recorded more than 2,000 drugs Written as early as 1,000 BCE Meaning “compendium of wandering physicians,” the Charaka Samhita was the work of multiple authors

Ancient Greece Terra Sigilata, or "sealed earth", was the first therapeutic agent to bear a trademark Originated in Greece before 500 BCE Composed of sacred clay that was blessed, refined, shaped into uniform tablets, impressed with an official seal, sun-dried, and then distributed commercially

Theophrastus One of the greatest early Greek philosophers and natural scientists Observed and wrote extensively on the medicinal qualities of herbs Known as the father of botany His unusually accurate observations and writings date to about 300 BCE

Hippocrates Greek physician who lived between 460 BCE and 377 BCE Known as the father of medicine Commonly regarded as one of the most notable figures in medicine of all time Rejected the widely held views that illness was connected to mystic or demonic forces and positioned medicine as a branch of science

Hippocrates and Theory of Humors Published more than 70 writings related to the practice of medicine and apothecary Hippocratic Oath: physicians pledge to “do no harm” Connects personal health to harmony among four bodily fluids, known as humors Each humor also related to a mood or personality characteristic Blood (happiness) Phlegm (lethargy) Yellow bile (irritability) Dark or “black” bile (melancholy)

Ancient Rome Mithridates VI developed poisons, preventives, and treatments around 100 BCE Used himself and prisoners as subjects on which to test poisons and antidotes During the first century CE, Pedanios Dioscorides wrote De Materia Medica, which was used by medical professionals as late as the sixteenth century

Galen Practiced and taught both pharmacy and medicine during 130–200 CE His principles of preparing and compounding medicines reigned in the Western world for 1,500 years His name still is associated with the class of pharmaceuticals compounded by mechanical means: galenicals

Development of the Apothecary In 8th century, Arab practitioners separated the arts of the apothecary and physician The first apothecaries, or privately owned drug stores, appeared in Baghdad Arab apothecaries developed new medicines Traveling Muslims brought the new system of pharmacy to Europe and Africa

Development of the Pharmacopeia The first pharmacopeia, the Nuovo Receptario, was published in Florence, Italy, in 1498 One of the earliest constructive collaborations between the Guild of Apothecaries and the Medical Society

The First Anglo-Saxon Organization for Pharmacists The Guild of Grocers monopolized trade in drugs and spices In 1617, King James I formed a separate company for apothecaries

The First Apothecary in the American Colonies Apothecaries from Europe were largely unwilling to emigrate to the American colonies John Winthrop, first Governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony and founder of Boston, sought advice from English apothecaries and physicians In 1640, Winthrop began selling imported European medicines and medicines derived from native New England plants

The 18th Century America’s first female pharmacist, Elizabeth Marshall America’s first hospital, Philadelphia, 1751 Founded by Benjamin Franklin The hospital’s pharmacy began operations in 1752 John Morgan, pharmacist and physician Advocated written prescriptions Advocated for the independent practice of the two professions America’s first Apothecary General, Andrew Craigie Duties included procurement, storage, manufacture, and distribution of the Army's drugs

The 19th century America’s first college of pharmacy, the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy The American Pharmaceutical Association Founded to meet the needs for better intercommunication among pharmacists Set standards for education and apprenticeship Began quality control over imported drugs The United States Pharmacopoeia Published in 1820 First book of drug standards to achieve national acceptance

The 19th century (cont.) The father of American pharmacy, William Procter, Jr. Graduated from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy in 1837 Served as professor of pharmacy for 20 years Was a leader in founding the American Pharmaceutical Association Editor of the American Journal of Pharmacy for 22 years

The 20th century The American Council on Pharmaceutical Education Founded in 1932 to establish standards for pharmacy education Initially established standards for baccalaureate degree in pharmacy; added the doctor of pharmacy standards as an alternative

Evolution of the Pharmacist’s Role The traditional era (1900–1930): formulating and dispensing drugs derived from natural sources The scientific era (1930–1960): development of new drugs; scientific testing; mass production of synthetic drugs and antibiotics The Clinical Era (1960–1990): pharmacists expected to dispense drug information, warnings, advice, and suggestions to patients The Pharmaceutical Care Era (current era): practice of pharmacy focused on ensuring positive outcomes for drug-related therapies

Biotechnology Drugs are produced using living organisms such as yeast, bacteria, or mammalian cells The majority are manufactured through recombinant DNA technology A human gene capable of triggering specific protein production is inserted into a living organism and cultured in a laboratory The organism incorporates the gene into its cell structure, and begins producing the desired protein (drug) The majority of drugs being so developed are tested for use in the treatment of cancer or cancer-related conditions

Pharmacogenomics Predicts whether a patient will have a severe, negative reaction to a prescribed medication Simple, rapid DNA test used May aid in selection of better medications for patient Still in development