Drugs And Pharmacology Lecture

Question 1

What is pharmacokinetics?

Answer 1

The study of the time course of a drug and its metabolites in the body after administration by any route.

Question 2

What are the four main processes involved in pharmacokinetics?

Answer 2

• Absorption
• Distribution
• Metabolism (Biotransformation)
• Excretion

Question 3

What is pharmacodynamics?

Answer 3

The study of the physiological effects of a drug on the body.

Question 4

Name three factors affecting drug metabolism.

Answer 4

• Genetic factors
• Environmental factors
• Drug interactions

Question 5

What is the therapeutic window?

Answer 5

The range of drug concentrations in the blood that provides the desired therapeutic effect without causing unacceptable toxicity.

Question 6

What defines the lower limit of the therapeutic window?

Answer 6

The concentration that produces half the greatest possible effect.

Question 7

What defines the upper limit of the therapeutic window?

Answer 7

The concentration at which no more than 5-10% of patients experience a harmful side effect.

Question 8

What are agonists?

Answer 8

Drugs that bind to and activate cellular receptors, producing a biological response.

Question 9

What are the types of antagonists?

Answer 9

• Chemical antagonists
• Functional antagonists
• Competitive antagonists
• Non-competitive antagonists

Question 10

Define ED50.

Answer 10

The dose that gives the required response in 50% of subjects.

Question 11

Define TD50.

Answer 11

The dose that produces harmful side effects in 50% of subjects.

Question 12

What is the therapeutic index (TI)?

Answer 12

TD50/ED50. A larger TI reflects a greater margin of safety.

Question 13

What is overdose toxicity?

Answer 13

Taking a drug above its therapeutic range.

Question 14

What are side effects/sensitivities?

Answer 14

Unintended effects of a drug at therapeutic doses.

Question 15

What are allergic reactions in the context of drug use?

Answer 15

The drug acts as an allergen/antigen, triggering an immune response.

Question 16

What are drug interactions?

Answer 16

Occur when one drug affects the activity of another drug.

Question 17

What is acetaminophen commonly known as?

Answer 17

Tylenol®

Question 18

List possible mechanisms of action for acetaminophen.

Answer 18

• COX inhibition centrally
• Serotonin (5-HT) modulation
• Modulation of the endogenous cannabinoid system

Question 19

What are the effects of NSAIDs?

Answer 19

• Anti-inflammatory
• Anti-pyretic
• Anti-platelet
• Analgesic

Question 20

What is the main form of cortisone?

Answer 20

Cortisol (hydrocortisone)

Question 21

What is the mechanism of action for opioids?

Answer 21

µ-opioid receptor agonists

Question 22

What are the potential medical uses of opioids?

Answer 22

• Pain relief (acute, chronic)
• Sedation
• Anesthesia
• Cough suppression
• Diarrhea treatment
• Dyspnea

Question 23

What are the two main compounds of cannabinoids?

Answer 23

• CBD (non-psychoactive)
• THC (psychoactive)

Question 24

What is bioavailability?

Answer 24

The fraction of the administered drug dose that reaches the systemic circulation in an unchanged state.

Question 25

What are the routes of drug administration?

Answer 25

• Oral
• Sublingual/buccal
• Inhaled
• Topical
• Vaginal
• Rectal
• Transdermal
• Injection (IV, IM, SC, IA)

Question 26

What factors can affect drug distribution?

Answer 26

• Blood flow to target tissue
• Barriers like the blood-brain barrier
• Lipid solubility
• Binding to plasma proteins

Question 27

What is the half-life of a drug?

Answer 27

The time it takes for the serum drug concentration to decrease by 50%.

Question 28

What are common adverse drug reactions (ADRs)?

Answer 28

• Overdose toxicity
• Side effects/Sensitivities
• Allergic reactions
• Drug interactions

Question 29

True or False: The therapeutic index (TI) is calculated by dividing TD50 by ED50.

Answer 29

True