BP 1 - General principles of pharmacology

Question 1

What are the principles of drug action?

Answer 1

• Use and prescribe drugs
• Patients using drugs
• Know developments in pharmacology and therapeutics

Question 2

Define pharmacodynamics

Answer 2

Effect of the drug on the body

Question 3

What is the importance of pharmacodynamics?

Answer 3

• Molecular interaction- drugs exert their effects
• Drug conc on the magnitude of response
• Determine the appropriate dosage
• Can compare the effectiveness and safety of one drug to another

Question 4

Define pharmacokinetics

Answer 4

What the body does to the drug - therefore optimising treatment for individuals

Question 5

What are the pharmacokinetics effects on the body?

Answer 5

• Absorption – into the blood
• Distribution – can leave blood and distribute into the interstitial and intercellular fluids of tissues
• Metabolism – body inactivates the drug by enzymes
• Excretion – eliminated by urine, bile or faeces

Question 6

Where does antihistamine work in the body?

Answer 6

• Mucous membrane of the nose

- Active within the digestion process and helps production of gastric acid and peristalsis

Question 7

Why does another antihistamine tablet need to be taken for a second day in a row?

Answer 7

The AH is produced through the kidneys and excreted, therefore tablet allows for maintained concentration

Question 8

What are the types of drug sources? and give examples

Answer 8

• Naturally occurring, previously from a plant source e.g. taxanes (anti-cancer) from yew tree bark
• Synthetic, e.g. insulin (identical from natural compounds) and codeine (derived from natural compounds)

Question 9

What are the targets of drug interactions?

Answer 9

• Shape– determines binding

- Charge distribution– determines the bond type that holds the drug to the target

Question 10

Define Van der Waals

Answer 10

Shift electron density – forming transient +ve/-ve charge

Question 11

Define hydrogen bonds

Answer 11

Bind to oxygen and nitrogen to become positively polarised

Bonding to more then become negatively polarised

Question 12

Define ionic interactions

Answer 12

Atoms with an excess of electrons attracted to atoms with a deficiency of electrons

Question 13

Define covalent bonds

Answer 13

2 atoms bonding to share electrons

Question 14

How does hydrophobicity work?

Answer 14

Attracts hydrophobic drug to the hydrophobic binding site

Question 15

What is stereochemistry?

Answer 15

3D arrangement of a molecule

Question 16

Name drug action targets?

Answer 16

1. Receptors - hormones and neurotransmitters
2. Enzymes - biological catalysts
3. Ion channels - pores spanning membrane which are selective
4. Carrier molecules - transporting ions and small organic molecules across the membrane

Question 17

What is the drug action target and medical use of salbutamol?

Answer 17

ß2 adrenoreceptor

Asthma

Question 18

What is the drug action target and medical use of lidocaine?

Answer 18

Voltage gated sodium channel

LA

Question 19

What is the drug action target and medical use of aspirin?

Answer 19

Cyclooxygenase (enzyme)

Analgesic

Question 20

What is the drug action target and medical use of omeprazole?

Answer 20

Proton pump (carrier molecule)

Anti-ulcer

Question 21

What is the use of an analgesic?

Answer 21

Relieves pain

Question 22

What drugs act by their physics-chemical properties?

Answer 22

Antidotes, antacids and laxatives

Question 23

What is the function of an antidote?

Answer 23

Counteract particular poison