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Review
. 2014 May-Jun;46(3):246-50.
doi: 10.4103/0253-7613.132151.

Social pharmacology: expanding horizons

Rituparna Maiti  1 , José Luis Alloza  2
Affiliations
Review

Social pharmacology: expanding horizons

Rituparna Maiti et al. Indian J Pharmacol. 2014 May-Jun.

Abstract

In the current modern and global society, social changes are in constant evolution due to scientific progress (technology, culture, customs, and hygiene) and produce the freedom in individuals to take decisions by themselves or with their doctors toward drug consumption. In the arena of marketed drug products which includes society, individual, administration, and pharmaceutical industry, the young discipline emerged is social pharmacology or sociopharmacology. This science arises from clinical pharmacology, and deals with different parameters, which are important in creating knowledge on marketed drugs. However, the scope of "social pharmacology" is not covered by the so-called "Phase IV" alone, but it is the science that handles the postmarketing knowledge of drugs. The social pharmacology studies the "life cycle" of any marketed pharmaceutical product in the social terrain, and evaluates the effects of the real environment under circumstances totally different in the drug development process. Therefore, there are far-reaching horizons, plural, and shared predictions among health professionals and other, for beneficial use of a drug, toward maximizing the benefits of therapy, while minimizing negative social consequences.

Keywords: Clinical pharmacology; Phase IV; drug abuse; post marketing period; sociopharmacology.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict Interest: No

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The major players in sociopharmacology (Source: Alloza JL. Social Pharmacology: Conceptual remarks. Drug Information Journal 2004; 38: 321-329)
Figure 2
Figure 2
The mission of social pharmacology (Source: Alloza JL. Social Pharmacology: Conceptual remarks. Drug Information Journal 2004;38:321-329)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

  • Social pharmacology and diabetes.
    Kalra S, Gupta Y. Kalra S, et al. Indian J Pharmacol. 2014 Sep-Oct;46(5):564. doi: 10.4103/0253-7613.140601. Indian J Pharmacol. 2014. PMID: 25298595 Free PMC article. No abstract available.

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