3.5 - Pharmaceutical chemistry Flashcards
what does a drug do in the body
alters biochemical processes
what are added to drugs to make a medicine
fillers to add bulk or sweeteners to improve taste
how do drugs generally work
by binding to specific protein molecules
where can these specific protein molecules be found
on the surface of a cell (receptor) or as specific enzyme molecules within a cell
what are the two classifications of drugs that act on receptors
agonists and antagonists
what does an agonist do
it mimics the natural compound and binds to the receptor molecules to produce a response similar to the natural active compound
what does an antagonist do
prevents the natural compound from binding to the receptor, and so blocks the natural response from occurring
what do enzyme inhibitors do
bind to the active site of the enzyme, blocking the reaction normally catalysed there
what types of interactions can occur between a drug and protein molecules
van der waals forces and/or ionic bonds
