Drug Toxicity Flashcards
What are some factors affecting drug toxicity?
Drug pharmacological properties
Drug dosing
Age/gender
Genetics
Body weight/fat distribution
Smoking/drinking
Pre-existing conditions/health status
polypharmacy (drug-drug interactions)
allergy (hypersensitivity reactions)
What are the 5 mechanisms of drug toxicity?
on target effects
off target effects
harmful metabolites (mainly in the liver)
allergic responses
idiosyncratic responses (rare adverse effects)
What is an on-target adverse effect?
high drug concentration or chronic receptor activation/inhibition of the intended receptor
-Can be within the intended tissue (correct tissue, correct receptor) or in an uninteneded tissue (correct receptor, incorrect tissue)
What is an off target adverse effect?
high drug activation or activation/inhibition of incorrect receptor
-can be in the intended tissue (correct tissue, wrong receptor) or an unintended tissue (unintended receptor, unintended tissue)
what can on target adverse effects in the correct tissue be due to?
- changes in exposure
- changes in sensitivity
- alteration in drug PK parameters (impaired kidney/liver or drug interactinos)
- change in drug PD parameters (increase in receptor umber)
- extended exposure
What is a class effect?
Since the effect is caused by the drugs desired mechanism of action, the effect will be shared by all members of the drug class
How does diphenhydramine work?
Histamine H1 receptor antagonist (antihistamine)
What is an on-target adverse effect of diphenhydramine?
Can cross the BBB where it blocks H1 receptors causing drowsiness
How does lidocaine work?
blocks Na+ channels in neurons at site of
What is an on-target adverse effect of lidocaine?
overdose or inappropriate administration can cause channel blockade in the CNS causing tremors, seizures and even death
How does Haloperidol work?
antipsychotic that blocks dopamine D2 receptors in the mesocorticol/mesolimbic regions
What is an on-target adverse effect of haloperidol?
D2 blockade in the pituitary results in Hyperprolactinemia, whereas D2 blockade in the nigrostriatal region promotes EPS symptoms
What is a common example of a drug binding to an unintended site of action?
Numerous compounds have been shown to be capable of interacting with the cardiac hERG channels and blocking their activity
What is hERG?
hERG is a subunit of cardiac potassium channels critical for the cardiac action potential
Inhibition of hERG channels can result in serious toxicity
What can binding to hERG result in?
long QT syndrome
cardiac arrhythmias
sudden cardiac death
What can be a consequence of racemic mixtures of drugs being administered?
While one enantiomer is pharmacologically active and promotes the desired effect, the other can be completely inactive, but in some cases can bind to an alternative target to cause adverse effects
What does the R enantiomer of Thalidomide cause?
(R )-thalidomide causes sedation to treat morning sickness
What does the S enantiomer of THalidomide cause?
birth defects (limb defects)
What does the S,S (+) enantiomer of ethambutol do?
treats TB
What does the R,R (-) enantiomer of ethambutol cause?
blindness
What are three drugs that have harmful metabolites?
cyclophosphamide
Ifosamide
Nitrosurea