Background

Question 1

Why is PK interpretation of drug concentration important in a clinical setting?

Answer 1

Decision making and therapeutic drug monitoring i.e. helps measure therapeutic and toxic effects related to concentration that can’t be identified by clinical signs alone.

Question 2

What are the reasons for implementing clinical pharmacokinetics?

Answer 2

1. ) If a drug has a narrow therapeutic index
2. ) Patient adherence
3. )Patient has an unusal PK = inter-individual PK variability

Question 3

What does PK describe?

Answer 3

The relationship between DOSE and CONCENTRATION with TIME as the variable i.e. the conc will change over time.

Question 4

What does PD describe?

Answer 4

The relationship between CONCENTRATION and EFFECT irrelevant to time (effect will be the same whether given in morning or night.

Question 5

Define Absorption

Answer 5

The process by which unchanged drug molecules enter the circulation through the absorptive barrier

Question 6

Define Distribution

Answer 6

The process of drug transfer from the immediate post-absorption site into the tissues

Question 7

Define Metabolism

Answer 7

The irreversible transformation of a parent compound into a daughter compound

Question 8

Define Elimination

Answer 8

The process of irreversible loss of the drug compound via metabolism or excretion

Question 9

Why would zero order metabolism be unfavourable?

Answer 9

At zero order adding more drug would not achieve a greater therapeutic effect.