ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on how drugs make their way to the patient after being manufactured. It divides into three sections: drug products and distribution, medication use, and patients. Drug pricing, quality drug therapy, and patient outcomes from taking medication are also discussed with emphasis on how pharmacists affect the process. At a minimum, drug use process involves the process of manufacturing, storing, distributing, prescribing, pricing, dispensing, administering, using, controlling, and monitoring drugs and their effects and outcomes. Drugs must make their way safely and efficiently from the manufacturer to the physician, the doctor, nonpharmacy retailer, or the investigator. The use of dietary products continues to grow despite knowledge of problems surrounding their use: safety, effectiveness, interactions with drugs and foods, and high cost. Drug companies charged low prices to hospitals, other large buyers like chain drug stores, and the government, the largest buyer of drugs.
