1. Nutritional Pharmacology Flashcards
What types of drugs are:
Codeine
Paracetamol
Aspirin
Ibuprofen
Examples of analgesics
What types of drugs are:
Bisacodyl
Senna
Examples of laxatives
What type of drug is omeprazole?
Example of a PPI
What type of drugs are:
Cetirizine
Chlorphenamine
Examples of anti-histamines
What is the active ingredient of a drug?
Delivers the mode of action
Responsible for side effects
What is the inactive ingredient of a drug?
Alters the physical properties of the drug - colours, fillers, preservatives, lactose, gluten
What kind of reactions can inactive ingredients trigger?
Allergic reactions
Food intolerances
What is aspirin used for?
Reduces pain, fever, inflammation
What are the potential side effects of using aspirin?
GI bleeding
Peptic ulceration
Hypersensitivity
Which compound in aspirin triggers the side effects?
Salicylic acid
What is the natural alternative to aspirin?
Willow bark
Why is willow bark a better alternative to aspirin?
Contains salicin which doesn’t convert to salicylic acid
Same benefits without the side effects
What is meant by pharmacokinetics?
The timed movement of drugs into, through and out of the body
What is meant by pharmacodynamics?
How drugs interact with the body to exert their effect (mode of action)
What are the 4 key processes of pharmacokinetics?
Absorption
Distribution
Metabolism
Elimination
Why is absorption important in pharmacokinetics?
A drug must be absorbed into the bloodstream so it can exert its mode of action
Why is distribution important in pharmacokinetics?
Once in the bloodstream, the drug can now be distributed to its target site (normally a receptor) to exert its action
Why is metabolism important in pharmacokinetics?
Once the drug and receptor have interacted, the drug returns to the bloodstream and progresses to the liver to be metabolised and then eliminated from the body
Why is excretion important in pharmacokinetics?
Once metabolised, excretion normally takes place via urine or bile
What is first pass hepatic metabolism?
The process by which drugs taken orally are absorbed from the GIT and taken via the portal vein into the liver to be metabolised
What happens when a drug is extensively metabolised?
The amount of drug entering the bloodstream is greatly reduced
Effect exertion is reduced
How should drugs that are extensively metabolised by administered?
By a different route
e.g. nitro glycerine (GTN) spray for angina
Which two factors determine whether or not a drug reaches its target site of action?
Bioavailability
Route of administration
What is the bioavailability of a drug?
The proportion of the drug that can reach the bloodstream and is, therefore, available for distribution to its intended site of action
Where are drugs taken orally mainly absorbed?
SI
What are the benefits of sublingual/buccal drugs?
Bypasses liver metabolism
What factors affect drug absorption?
GI motility
Malabsorption
Presence of other substances
Format of the drug
How does the format of the drug affect absorption?
Acidic drugs absorb quicker in an acidic environment
Liquid medicines absorb quicker than a solid tablet
What factors affect drug distribution?
Binding to plasma proteins
Binding to other tissues
Accumulation in lipids
Natural barriers to distribution
What happens during drug metabolism?
The drug is changed from a lipid soluble to a more water soluble form for excretion
What happens during Phase I drug metabolism?
Drug is altered chemically to make it suitable for Phase II reactions or for excretion
Which family of enzymes are involved during Phase I metabolism?
CYP450
What happens during Phase II drug metabolism?
Molecules from Phase I (or in some cases unchanged drugs) are conjugated to a more water soluble product and aid excretion
What factors can influence the rate of metabolism in individuals?
Genetic
Environmental
What are the main excretion routes for drugs?
Urine
Faeces
What are the minor excretion routes for drugs?
Exhaled air
Sweat
Saliva
Tears
What dysfunction can affect the rate at which a drug/metabolite is cleared from the body?
Renal
What is entero-hepatic circulation?
Where very lipid soluble drugs may be reabsorbed and re-enter the portal vein
Prolongs excretion times
What factors can affect a drug’s mode of action?
Genetic mutations
Malnutrition
Medical conditions e.g. Parkinson’s, Alz
What information can pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics provide about a drug?
Mode of action
Administration route
Dosage
Side effects
Drug interactions
Which substances can affect the effects of a drug?
Food/drink
Nutritional supplements
Herbal medicines
Other drugs
Environmental chemical agents
What are narrow therapeutic index (NTI) drugs?
Drugs that may become dangerously toxic or ineffective with only relatively small changes in their blood concentrations
What types of drugs are digoxin, phenytoin, theophylline, warfarin and lithium?
Narrow therapeutic index (NTI) drugs
Which types of drugs are essential to have highlighted on case notes?
Narrow therapeutic index (NTI) drugs
Which populations are at an increased risk of serious side effects from drugs?
Patients experiencing liver/renal dysfunction
Elderly who take more than one drug
Patients taking drugs for multiple chronic long-term illnesses
Critically ill patients
What kinds of drugs can garlic interact with?
Cholesterol
Blood pressure
How should garlic be consumed to avoid interactions?
Interspersed throughout diet
Regular, high dietary intake and/or supplements should be avoided
What kinds of drugs can gingko interact with?
Anti-platelet
Anti-coagulant
(potential to increase bleeding risk)
Why should grapefruit and pomegranate be avoided with certain drugs?
Inhibits CYP3A4 in intestinal wall for up to 24 hrs
Increases peak levels of statins
Examples of drugs where grapefruit should be avoided
Statins
Digoxin
What types of drugs do green vegetables interact with?
Anti-platelet
Anti-coagulant
(potential to increase bleeding risk)