CH11: Pharmacology Flashcards
What is “absorption”
the movement of a drug from site of entry into systemic circulation
What is “bioavailability”
the percentage of active drug that is absorbed and available at the target tissue
Most important plasma protein for drug binding
albumin
What is “plasma protein binding”
drugs may attach to proteins (mainly albumin) in the bloodstream. Only the unbound drug is active.
As free drug is excreted, more of the drug is released from binding to replace what is lost.
(2) factors that can affect the amount of free drug that is available
- competition for binding sites by different drugs
- hypoalbuminemia
With plasma protein binding, only the drug that is [bound vs. unbound] is active
unbound
What is the “blood-brain barrier”
Endothelial cells of the capillaries that surround the brain are packed tightly together, which limits passive transport from blood into the cerebral tissue. A drug must be highly lipophilic to pass into the brain.
A drug must be highly _______ to pass into the brain
lipophilic (lipid soluble)
_______ of all drugs taken by the mother pass through the placenta to the fetus to some degree, and they reach steady state levels in the fetus generally between ____% to ____% of maternal concentration
Nearly all drugs
50-100%
(3) factors that affect drug transfer across the placenta
- lipid solubility
- extent of plasma protein binding
- degree of ionization of weak acids and bases
What is “steady state”
when the rate of drug elimination equals the rate of drug availability or absorption
What is “half life”
the time it takes for the plasma concentration of a drug to be reduced by 50%
the half life is used to determine the time required to reach steady state and the dosing interval
What is “volume of distribution”
the apparent volume in which the drug is dissolved. this relates to concentration of the drug in plasma and the amount in the body.
may be used to calculate the loading dose needed to achieve a desired steady state drug level immediately
what is “drug metabolism”
chemical inactivation of a drug by conversion to a more water-soluble compound (metabolite) that can be excreted from the body
the chemical alterations of drug metabolism in the body are mainly produced by ______ in the _______
microsomal enzymes mainly in the liver
What is the “hepatic first pass effect”
An orally-administered (PO) drug goes from the GI tract, through the portal system, to the liver before reaching general circulation. Some metabolism of the drug may occur as it is taken up by the liver’s microsomal enzymes
Drug-drug interactions can affect drug metabolism by enzyme _____ or _____
induction or inhibition
What is a “prodrug”
drugs that must be metabolized to become effective (into their active metabolites).
These drugs were developed to improve stability, increase absorption, or prolong duration of drug activities
Example: valacyclovir is not effective, but it’s active metabolite acyclovir is
What is “drug excretion”
removal of the drug from the body via the kidneys, intestines, sweat and salivary glands, lungs, or mammary glands
What is “enterohepatic recirculation”
some fat-soluble drugs may be reabsorbed into the bloodstream from the intestines and returned to the liver
How is drug absorption affected by pregnancy
not typically significantly affected
How is drug distribution affected by pregnancy
the increase in plasma volume during pregnancy may result in lower serum levels of the drug. a relative reduction in plasma proteins (albumin) may result in higher levels of free/unbound drugs.
How is drug metabolism affected by pregnancy
hepatic enzyme systems (i.e., CYP3A4, CYP1A2) are affected by rising levels of estrogen and progesterone. This may result in either faster OR slower metabolism of some drugs
How is first-pass hepatic metabolism affected by pregnancy
blood flow through the liver is not changed significantly so there is not typically a change in first-pass effects
How is drug excretion affected by pregnancy
the increase in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in pregnancy may result in faster elimination of drugs that are excreted primarily through the kidneys
What is a “drug receptor”
a cellular protein, enzyme, or membrane that, when bound to a drug, initiates a physiologic response or blocks a response that the receptor normally stimulates
What is a “drug receptor agonist”
a drug that combines with a receptor to stimulate a response
What is a “drug receptor antagonist”
A drug that interferes with receptor action or with other drug agonists present to prevent that response
What is “drug affinity”
The propensity of a drug to bind itself to a given receptor site
What is “drug efficacy”
the ability of a drug to initiate biologic activity as a result of drug receptor binding
What is a “therapeutic range or window”
the plasma concentration of the drug that produces a desired action without toxic effects
What is a “therapeutic index” (TI)
a ratio comparing the dose causing lethal effects in 50% of the population, over the median minimum effective dose in 50% of the population.
The higher (wider) the therapeutic index, the safer the drug
Genetic variations account for approximately ____% of individual differences in drug responses, in general
15-30%
Pharmacokinetic processes affected by genetics occur primarily because of polymorphisms that affect the function of ___________, resulting in variations in metabolism in a given drug
CYP450
What might it mean to be a poor (slow) metabolizer of a given drug
may have significantly elevated plasma levels/concentrations of a drug and a greater risk of toxicity with the same dose compared to other users
alternatively, may not be able to convert pro-drugs into their active metabolites effectively, thereby getting less or no effects from these drugs
What might it mean to be an ultra-rapid metabolizer of a given drug
may have difficulty maintaining therapeutic drug levels
alternatively, may have increased conversion of pro-drugs into their active metabolites causing increased risk of toxicity for these drugs
Why do hypersensitivity drug reactions (i.e., Stevens-Johnsons syndrome) occur
polymorphisms of the histocompatibility complex proteins allow some drugs to bind directly, initiating the hypersensitivity reaction
When is the clinical utility of pharmacogenomic testing the highest?
when prescribing drugs with
- a narrow therapeutic index
- high risk for adverse drug reactions
- consequences of treatment failure are severe
What is a PHARMACOKINETIC drug-drug interaction
from inhibition of absorption, enzyme inhibition, or induction that increases the risk for drug toxicity or that results in reduced drug effect or altered renal elimination
i.e., if one drug is a CYP450 inducer and the other relies on CYP450 for metabolism
What is a PHARMACODYNAMIC drug-drug interaction
additive if two drugs have similar pharmacodynamic effects (i.e., both lower BP)
antagonistic if two drugs have opposing pharmacodynamic effects
(4) factors that affect whether or not a drug will end up in the breastmilk
- pH
- protein binding
- liposolubility
- molecular weight
Age-related _____ in drug metabolism and/or excretion may result in ______ plasma concentrations
decreased metabolism and excretion»_space;
increased plasma concentrations (risk for toxicity!)
(5) examples of drugs/classes to avoid when possible in elderly populations due to increased risks for adverse effects
- long-acting NSAIDs
- benzodiazepines
- anticholinergic medications (i.e., amitriptyline, oxybutynin, dicyclomine)
- muscle relaxants
- diabetic medications with risk for hypoglycemia (i.e., sulfonylureas)
Risks of long-acting NSAIDs in geriatric populations
increased risk for indigestion, stomach ulcers, GI bleeding (they don’t list this in book but also kidney function??)
Risks of benzodiazepines in geriatric populations
increased risk for falls, confusion (especially those with a long half-life)
Risks of anticholinergic drugs in geriatric populations
e.g., dicyclomine (Bentyl), amitriptyline (TCA), and oxybutynin
increased risk for confusion, constipation, urinary retention, blurred vision, and low BP
Risks of muscle relaxants in geriatric populations
Increased risk for falls, confusion, constipation, and urinary retention
Risks of certain diabetes medications in geriatric populations
hypoglycemia
i.e., sulfonylureas (glyburide, chlorpropamide)
Medication class: metronidazole (Flagyl)
nitroimidazole antibiotic, antiprotozoal
Select indications for metronidazole (Flagyl) (5)
- trichomonas
- bacterial vaginosis (BV)
- PID (in combination with other abx)
- pseudomembranous colitis caused by C. diff
- gastric or peptic ulcers from H. pylori
Pharmacokinetics of metronidazole (Flagyl) (absorption, route, half life, metabolism, excretion, pregnancy)
- oral route has excellent bioavailability (>90%)
- intravaginal route is also an option, absorbed systemically with peak serum concentrations <2% of levels achieved with the oral dose
- widely distributed throughout the body tissues and fluids
- mean half-life is 8 hours
- metabolized mostly by the liver
- excreted mostly through the kidneys/urine (some fecal)
- crosses the placenta and does enter breastmilk
Pharmacodynamics (MOA) of metronidazole (Flagyl)
- disrupts DNA and protein synthesis of susceptible organisms
- amebicidal, bactericidal, antiprotozoal
- selectivity for anaerobic bacteria
Adverse reactions with metronidazole (Flagyl) are more common with the [oral vs. vaginal] route
oral
Most common adverse reactions of metronidazole (Flagyl)
- GI upset, nausea, vomiting, anorexia, abdominal cramps
- dry mouth, metallic taste
- headache
- hypersensitivity reaction
- mild leukopenia or neutropenia that should not persist after treatment
- peripheral neuropathy or seizures are possible in high doses or prolonged use
Drug-drug interactions with metronidazole (Flagyl)
- disulfiram (Antabuse) = may cause acute psychosis and confusion if taken within 2 weeks of one another
- alcohol (including medications with alcohol in them) = may cause nausea, vomiting, headache, flushing, abdominal cramps
- warfarin = metronidazole potentiates the actions of warfarin
- cimetidine (Antihistamine/Antacid) = this drug can decrease the hepatic metabolism of metronidazole increasing its serum levels
- phenobarbital and phenytoin = can increase the hepatic metabolism of metronidazole but the clinical significance of this is uncertain
Contraindications and cautions to use of metronidazole (Flagyl)
- hypersensitivity/allergy
- history of drug-induced hematologic dyscrasias
- hematologic diseases
- liver disease
- kidney disease
- preexisting seizure disorder
Considerations on the use of metronidazole (Flagyl) in pregnancy and lactation
- considered SAFE in all trimesters of pregnancy
- recommend interrupt nursing for 12-24 hours after the drug dose to allow for excretion of the drug before breastfeeding
Patient education points in prescribing metronidazole (Flagyl)
- taking with food may decrease GI upset
- avoid alcohol during and for 48 hours after treatment
- chew gum or suck on ice or candy to reduce dry mouth or metallic taste
- may cause a darkening of the urine, this is normal
- report any CNS symptoms
- if taking for trichomonas, refrain from sex until self and partner treatment is complete
Medication class: fluconazole (Diflucan)
triazole antifungal, azole derivative
Select indications for the use of fluconazole (Diflucan)
- candidiasis (yeast infection) of the oropharynx, esophagus, and vulva/vagina
- fungal meningitis caused by cryptococcosis, candida species, and histoplasmosis
Pharmacokinetics of fluconazole (Diflucan) (absorption, route, half life, metabolism, excretion, pregnancy)
- oral administration is rapidly absorbed in the GI tract with bioavailability >90%
- is widely distributed in the body tissues and fluids
- drug concentrates in the vagina and saliva — vaginal secretion, saliva, and sputum concentrations are about 10x that of plasma concentrations
- mean half-life is 30 hours
- metabolized by the liver via CYP450 with NO first-pass metabolism effect
- mostly excreted through the urine (60-80%) as unchanged drug
- distribution into breastmilk and across the placenta is unknown
Pharmacodynamics (MOA) for fluconazole (Diflucan)
- highly selective inhibitor of fungal CYP450 enzymes
- alters fungal cell membrane function and cell-wall synthesis
- broad spectrum of antifungal activity
- there is emerging resistance to this by non-Candida albicans species
Common adverse reactions to fluconazole (Diflucan)
- headache
- GI upset including nausea or abdominal pain
Drug-drug interactions with fluconazole (Diflucan)
- carbamazepine (Tegretol) = increases antiseizure med levels and decreases fluconazole levels
- phenytoin (Dilantin) = nystagmus and ataxia
- sulfonylureas = hypogylcemia
- warfarin = increases warfarin levels
- theophylline = increases theophylline levels
- cyclosporine (immunosuppressant after transplant) = can cause nephrotoxicity
- cisapride (Propulsid; Prokinetic GI motility agent) = can cause prolonged QT interval
Contraindications and cautions to the use of fluconazole (Diflucan)
- history of heart arrhythmia
- liver disease
- kidney disease
- hypersensitivity/allergy
- multiple drug interactions
Considerations on use of fluconazole (Diflucan) in pregnancy and lactation
- recommend topical treatment for vulvovaginal candidiasis in pregnancy x7 days to be safe. however, the available human data do not suggest an increased risk of congenital anomalies following a single oral maternal dose of 150mg
- considered compatible with breastfeeding. however, distributed in breastmilk at concentrations similar to that of maternal plasma