4.1 Individual Variation in Pharmacology Across Lifespan Flashcards
Individual Variation
- Patients respond to drugs differently than other patients
- Bodyweight/composition, diet, pathophysiology, tolerance, placebo effect, gender, race, genetics, age.
Body Weight and Composition (Excess Weight)
- Causes more body mass for the drug to saturate
- Effects how quickly a drug is metabolized/eliminated
Obese - Higher fat and lower lean tissue and water effects distribution of drugs in tissues.
- Binding of drugs to Albumin is not effected
Body Weight and Composition (Nutrient Deficiency)
- Effects both pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics
UNDERNUTRITION/MALNUTRITION - Great potential for altering drug metabolism.
- Effects absorption, plasma protein binding, distribution, bio-transformation/metabolism, and excretion
Diet
- Starvation reduces protein binding of drugs and increases levels of free drugs
- Certain foods block or enhance absorption of medication
- Grapefruit - Statis (high cholesterol medication)
- Calcium rich food - Certain Antibiotics
- Alcohol - Prescription Stimulants
- Aged/Pickled/Cured/Fermented Food - Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs)
Diet Habits
Infants - Milk/Formula is primary food intake. This decreases acidity in stomach and alters pH which effects drug absorption. (considered when giving oral meds)
School-Aged and Adolescents - Assess for use of Caffeine, Alcohol, Tobacco, Street Drugs.
- Question Children/Parents about use of Herbal Therpaies
Environment
Economic - Insurance and other resource availability
Safety of Medication - Proper places to store and administer medication
Can drugs be stored away from children’s reach and are parents/guardians responsible for adherence
Pathophysiology
Alterations in physiological processes can cause or result from disease/injury
- Kidney disease results in reduced excretion and increased toxicity
- Liver disease resulting in reduced metabolism of drug and increased toxicity
- Acid-Base balances and pH alter absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion.
- Altered electrolytes rarely have a significant impact on drug response
Tolerance
- Decreased response to drug from repeated administrations
Pharmacodynamic Tolerance
Results from long term administration of drugs such as morphine/heroin
Metabolic Tolerance
Accelerated drug metabolism. (Ethanol induces activity of liver enzymes that metabolize ethanol, resulting in rapid elimination and lower alcohol levels
Tachyphylaxis
Acute, sudden decrease in response to drug after administration. (Rapid and short-term onset of drug tolerance)
- It can occur after a single initial dose or series of small doses
(Possible to restore original response from higher dose)
Placebo Effect
Individuals experience response from a drug with no therapeutic value solely on the idea of taking a medication.
- Primary use is in control groups for clinical trials
Variation in Absorption
Bioavailability - How much drug reaches the systemic circulation from site of administration
Occurs primarily with oral preparations and not parental administration.
- Changes in gastric pH, diarrhea, constipation, food in stomach also effect variation in absorption
Pharmacogenomics
- Genes affect drug response (New Study)
- Goals of studying is to develop medications effective and safe for a persons specific genetic makeup
Genetic Differences Include - Altered drug metabolism
- Altered drug targets; genetics alter structure of drug receptors
Gender
- Alcohol is metabolized slower in women than men
- Certain opioids are more effective in women than men
- Quinidine (antidysrhythmic drug) causes greater QT interval prolongation on electrocardiogram in women than men
Race/Ethnicity
- Variations in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics
- Tied to genetic/psychosocial/environmental factors
Black respond better than white to diuretics and calcium channel blockers.
Whites response better than blacks to angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and B Blockers.
Adherence
- Lack of adherence (failure to take medicine as prescribed)
- Issues include manual dexterity, visual acuity, intellectual capacity, psychological state, attitude towards drug, ability to pay for medication
Drug Interaction/Age
- Interactions effect Individual Variation
Age - Infants/Elderly are especially sensitive to drugs
Infants - Due to organ immaturity
Elderly - Organ degeneration
Aging also effects severity of illness, pathologies, treatment with multiple drugs
Pharmacology in Pediatrics
- They undergo physiological changes throughout development that influence both pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics
- Absorption/Distribution/Metabolism/Excretion are all altered in pediatric patients compared to adults
Pharmacodynamics in PEDS
Pharmacodynamics target cells and alter cellular reactions and functions
- Pharmacodynamic variables in ped patients vary because of differences in target cells and fluctuating number of protein receptors on cells.
- Different body composition, immature systems, and genetics also vary pharmacology in peds
- Total body water, fat stores, and protein levels change throughout childhood which influences effectiveness of drugs on children