Ch. 1-Introduction Flashcards
pharmacodynamics
study of cellular and molecular interactions of drugs with their targets
“what the drug does to the body”
pharmacology
study of biochemical and physiological effects of drugs on the body
pharmacokinetics
study of how a drug is metabolized, absorbed, and eliminated and the factors that influence this
“what the body does to the drug”
pharmaceutical toxicology
study of toxic effects of drugs
“side effects”
medicinal chemistry
study of drug design to optimize pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics, and synthesis of new drugs
pharmaceutics
study and design of drug formulation for optimal delivery, stability, pharmacokinetics, and patient acceptance
pharmacogenomics
study of influence of genetics on drug response in patients
drug
any substance used in diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of a disease
-can be synthetic, semisynthetic, or naturally occurring compound
4 Steps of Pharmacokinetics
- Absorption
- Distribution
- Metabolism
- Elimination
Absorption of a drug
- input
- mixes with plasma
- blood is the carrier
Distribution of a drug
- blood carries it to the tissues
- not all of the drug reaches the target, must go through the liver first
Metabolism of a drug
- first obstacle is liver
- metabolizes some of the drug, reducing the amount that reaches the target
Elimination of a drug
- output
- kidney is most important organ here, eliminates drug through urine
Should someone’s dose be reduced or increased if they have liver or kidney problems?
reduced, if the liver can’t metabolize some of the drug that person may get too much at the target area, causing damage. if the kidney can’t eliminate it properly, it will stay in the system longer, potentially causing damage.
site of action
location in the body where the drug performs its desired function
How do drugs work with their receptors?
the drug is the key, and the receptor is the lock. only one drug can fit into a certain receptor, and if the drug binds to the wrong one it causes side effects
What are receptors made of?
protein
Where are receptors located?
either extracellular or intracellular
active site
receptor where the drug binds
Drugs are meant to resemble ________ naturally present in the body.
neurotransmitters
What are blockers?
drugs that bind to the receptor, but they don’t fit perfectly so they just block the keyhole to other drugs
“key goes into the ignition but can’t start the engine”
drug design
finding new drugs based on understanding of the disease and structure and function of biological target
rational drug design
- formulating a design over time
- take into account being able to bind to target, body’s barriers, and whether or not the body can eliminate the drug
random screening
discovering drugs through search of natural sources or by synthesis of compounds, then testing them for biological activities through trial and error
- often used to identify lead compounds
- resulted in discovery of many important drugs
What is the most common form of drug administration?
oral
intravenous drug administration
injects drug directly into bloodstream and bypasses the liver
-quickest action
intramuscular drug administration
injected directly into the muscle, bypasses the liver but only stays in one spot
inhalants
they are breathed in so they go straight to the lungs and alveoli
subcutaneous drug administration
-stays effective longer, acts like a deposit just under the skin and has a slow release
when would rectal administration be used?
if the patient is vomiting and can’t keep anything down
when would vaginal administration be used?
if the patient had a need for yeast or antifungal medication, it would be applied directly to the site of action
when would topical administration be used?
for any skin rash or burn, etc the medicine will be directly on the site of action
when would epidural or spinal administration be used?
if you needed quick action before surgery or birth
when would gastric administration be used?
if the patient is paralyzed and can’t swallow, this way the medicine goes into the body without being swallowed
drug disposition
distribution, metabolism, and elimination of drugs after entering the bloodstream
pharmacotherapeutics
study of therapeutic uses and effects of drugs in patients
-focus on patient, meds don’t act the same in everyone (body size, age, disease, environmental factors, and genetic influence)
What agency regulates and approves drugs?
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
drug product (defined by FDA)
finished dosage form that contains the drug (tablet, capsule)
How long can it take for a drug to make it to stores?
10 years
4 Phases of Drug Development and Approval
- Is it safe?
- testing healthy volunteers to look for safety, toxicity, and pharmacokinetics - Does it work?
- small number of patients with the disease to assess if it works, dosing, and side effects - Is it good or better?
- more widespread, comparing new treatment to current standards - Can it stay?
- on the shelves, some people give feedback and if something goes wrong it is removed
In what situation would you bypass the phases and just give the medicine to someone, even if it was just experimental?
if they had a terminal illness, they have nothing to lose by trying it
