What is the field that studies drugs and their effects on the body?

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The field that studies drugs and their effects on the body is pharmacology. This discipline encompasses the understanding of the interactions between drugs and biological systems, including how drugs work, their therapeutic effects, side effects, and the mechanisms of action within the body. Pharmacologists investigate how drugs can prevent, treat, or manage diseases, and they analyze how various factors such as dosage, route of administration, and individual patient characteristics can influence drug efficacy and safety.

Pharmacogenomics, while related, specifically focuses on how an individual's genetic makeup affects their response to drugs. This is a more specialized area within pharmacology rather than the broader study of all drugs and their effects.

Pharmacy mainly pertains to the practice of preparing and dispensing medications, as well as advising patients on their safe use. It incorporates aspects of pharmacology but is more focused on the application in medical settings.

Toxicology is the study of the harmful effects of substances on living organisms, including drugs, but it primarily focuses on poison and toxicity rather than the therapeutic effects and broader aspects explored in pharmacology. Thus, pharmacology is the most accurate term for the comprehensive study of drugs and their effects on the body.

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