10.1 Principles of Pharmacology

Question 1

Why is drug selectivity important?

Answer 1

if we want to see a selective effect

Question 2

What percent of hospital admissions are directly attributed to adverse drug reactions?

Answer 2

5%

Question 3

What is pharmacology?

Answer 3

Study of drug action, understanding of how a drug reacts with living organisms, and influences physiological function

Question 4

What is therapeutics?

Answer 4

More concerned with drug prescribing and treatment of disease

Question 5

What is the difference between pharmacology and therapeutics?

Answer 5

Pharmacology –> more drug focused

Therapeutics –> more patient focused

Question 6

What is pharmacodynamics?

Answer 6

What the drug does to the body.

Consider:

• where is the effect produced
• what is the target
• what is the response that is produced after interaction with this drug

Question 7

Where is the euphoric effect of cocaine produced?

Answer 7

dopaminergic neurones in the nucleus accumbens (specific site for drug effect)

Question 8

What is the target of cocaine?

Answer 8

the dopamine reuptake protein on the pre-synaptic terminal

Question 9

Why is it important that a drug has a target?

Answer 9

In order for a drug to produce an effect, it must be bound to a specific target in the body.

Question 10

What is the response that is produced after cocaine binds to the dopamine reuptake protein?

Answer 10

Cocaine BLOCKS the dopamine reuptake protein. This means that less dopamine is removed from the synapse, and thus more dopamine is available to bind to the dopamine (D1) receptor. Activation of this receptor is what causes euphoria.

Question 11

What are the four classes of drug targets?

Answer 11

1. Receptors
2. Enzymes
3. Ion Channels
4. Transport proteins

Question 12

What are the two ways drugs can act on targets?

Answer 12

enhance activation of the target - stimulate an effect

prevent activation of the target - block and effect from being produced

Question 13

What class of drug target does aspirin bind to and how does it act on it?

Answer 13

Target: cyclooxygenase (enzyme)
Action: blocks the production of prostaglandins.

Question 14

What class of drug target does nicotine bind to and how does it act on it?

Answer 14

Target: nicotinic acetylcholine receptor
Action: activates

Question 15

What class of drug target does local anaesthetic bind to and how does it act on it?

Answer 15

Target: sodium ion channels
Action: blocks
(prevents nerve conduction)

Question 16

What class of drug target does Prozac (anti-depressant) bind to and how does it act on it?

Answer 16

Target: serotonin carrier proteins
Action: blocks serotonin reuptake (prevents serotonin from being removed from the synapse)