FB - Medical Pharmacology Flashcards

1
Q

What is pharmacology?

A

The study of the sources, uses, effect, and mechanisms of action of drugs.

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2
Q

What is pharmacodynamics?

A

What drugs do to the body.

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3
Q

What is pharmacokinetics?

A

What the body does to the drugs.

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4
Q

What is a drug?

A

A drug is a chemical which is utilized for the diagnosis, prevention, cure or amelioration of an unwanted health condition in humans.

All drugs are chemicals; BUT not all chemicals are drugs.

All drugs are poisons; BUT not all poisons are drugs.

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5
Q

What is toxicology?

A

Toxicology is a branch of pharmacology that deals with undesirable/unwanted effects of chemicals on living systems.

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6
Q

Define therapeutic index.

A

Therapeutic Index (TI) = TD50/ED50

ED50: Dose produces specified therapeutic effect in 50% of animals

TD50: Dose produces toxic/adverse effect in 50% of animals

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7
Q

How does therapeutic index relate to drug margin of safety?

A

The higher the TI, the safer the drug, the wider the Margin of Safety

Higher TI drugs: e.g. Ranitidine, omeprazole, diazepam - higher safety

Lower TI drugs: e.g. theophylline, warfarin - lower safety

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8
Q

List at least 5 factors that can influence the severity of drug adverse effects

A

Severity of adverse drug effects can be different by gender, genetic make-up, age, pregnancy, underlying pathology, immunity, drug-drug interaction.

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9
Q

Name at least TWO factors on each side of the therapeutic balance of risk-benefit ratio for patients.

A

Risk: Toxic effects, Cost, Inconvenience of administration.

Benefits: Reduced morbidity, Improved quality of life, Effectiveness, Ease of administration (e.g., tablets)

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10
Q

List FIVE steps in rationale prescribing.

A
  1. Making a diagnosis
  2. Consideration of treatment options
  3. Prescription
  4. Patient counselling
  5. Monitoring
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11
Q

List at least THREE patient factors and THREE drug factors that should be considered when making a prescription

A

Patient factors
1. Age and gender
2. Interacting diseases
3. Interacting drugs
4. Genetics

Drug factors
1. Pharmacokinetics
2. Pharmacodynamics
3. Evidence-base
4. Cost-effectiveness

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12
Q

Why do doctors need to know pharmacology?

A

Because knowledge of pharmacology saves lives.

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13
Q

What are the three regulatory categories regulating sale of medicines?

A

1.Over-the-Counter Medicines (General Sales) Examples: antacids, paracetamol, aspirin

2.Pharmacy-Only-Medicines
Examples: antifungal creams, cough medicines, antidiarrhoeals

3.Prescription-Only-Medicines (by registered Medical Practitioners) Examples: antibiotics, antihypertensive, anti-diabetics

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