FB - Pharmacokinetics I Flashcards

1
Q

What are the four fundamental principles of pharmacokinetics in medicines?

A

Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion (ADME)

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2
Q

What does the absorption rate constant (Ka) indicate in pharmacokinetics?

A

The rate at which a drug is absorbed into the bloodstream

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3
Q

Define the ‘therapeutic window’ in pharmacology.

A

The range of drug concentrations in the body that is effective without being toxic

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4
Q

What are some common dosage regimens in pharmacotherapy?

A

Intermittent dosing, continuous infusion, slow release formulations

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5
Q

Why are slow release medications beneficial?

A

They help maintain drug concentrations within the therapeutic window for longer periods

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6
Q

What are the two types of intravenous dosing?

A

Intermittent injection and continuous infusion

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7
Q

What is the purpose of therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM)?

A

To optimize drug dosages for effective treatment, especially in patients with varying pathophysiological conditions

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8
Q

How are drug dosages adjusted?

A

Based on factors like patient’s age, weight, renal function, and the drug’s pharmacokinetic properties

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9
Q

How does the body’s absorption of a drug relate to its pharmacological effect?

A

Faster absorption generally leads to a quicker onset of the drug’s effect

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10
Q

What factors influence a drug’s distribution in the body?

A

Blood flow to tissues, tissue binding, and the drug’s lipid solubility

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11
Q

How does metabolism affect a drug’s activity in the body?

A

Metabolism can either activate a prodrug, inactivate an active drug or generate pharmacologically active metabolite(s)

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12
Q

What role does excretion play in pharmacokinetics?

A

It removes the drug or its metabolites from the body, ending its action

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13
Q

What is the significance of the half-life (t½) of a drug?

A

It indicates the time it takes for the drug’s plasma concentration to reduce by half

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14
Q

How does renal function affect drug excretion?

A

Impaired renal function can lead to reduced drug clearance and increased risk of toxicity

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15
Q

Why is patient compliance important in pharmacotherapy?

A

Non-compliance can lead to suboptimal therapeutic outcomes or increased risk of adverse effects

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16
Q

What are the challenges associated with high-frequency dosing regimens?

A

They can be inconvenient and increase the risk of non-compliance

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17
Q

What is the advantage of intermittent injection in IV dosing?

A

It allows control over drug concentrations and can prevent toxicity

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18
Q

How does continuous infusion benefit patients?

A

It maintains a constant drug concentration in the bloodstream

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19
Q

What is the importance of the loading dose in pharmacokinetics?

A

It rapidly achieves the desired therapeutic concentration of a drug in the body

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20
Q

How does the concept of a therapeutic window guide dosage adjustment?

A

It helps in maintaining drug concentrations within a safe and effective range

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21
Q

What factors are considered in therapeutic drug monitoring?

A

Drug levels, patient’s clinical response, potential side effects, drug-drug interactions

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22
Q

Why is monitoring renal function important in drug dosing?

A

To adjust dosages in patients with renal impairment and avoid toxicity

23
Q

How can drug interactions influence pharmacokinetics?

A

They can alter absorption, metabolism, and excretion, affecting drug efficacy and safety

24
Q

What is the impact of liver function on drug metabolism?

A

Impaired liver function can reduce drug clearance and increase the risk of adverse effects

25
Q

How do age and weight influence drug dosing?

A

They affect drug distribution, metabolism, and clearance, requiring dosage adjustments

26
Q

Why is understanding pharmacokinetics crucial in clinical practice?

A

It helps in optimizing drug therapy for efficacy and safety in individual patients

27
Q

What is the significance of drug solubility in absorption?

A

Solubility affects the rate and extent of a drug’s absorption into the bloodstream

28
Q

How does blood-brain barrier affect drug distribution?

A

It restricts the entry of many drugs into the central nervous system

29
Q

What is the role of protein binding in drug distribution?

A

It affects the drug’s free concentration in the plasma, influencing its pharmacological action

30
Q

How can genetic factors influence drug metabolism?

A

Genetic variations can lead to differences in drug-metabolizing enzymes, affecting drug response

31
Q

What is the concept of ‘bioavailability’ in pharmacokinetics?

A

The proportion of a drug that enters the circulation when introduced into the body and so is able to have a pharmacological effect

32
Q

How does the first-pass effect influence drug bioavailability?

A

It refers to the reduction in concentration of a drug before it reaches systemic circulation

33
Q

What is the significance of volume of distribution (Vd) in pharmacokinetics?

A

It represents the degree to which a drug is distributed in body tissues compared to the bloodstream

34
Q

Why is the clearance (Cl) of a drug important in pharmacokinetics?

A

It indicates the body’s efficiency in eliminating the drug, impacting dosing and potential toxicity

35
Q

How do protein-drug interactions affect drug efficacy?

A

They can influence the drug’s free concentration, distribution, and elimination, affecting its therapeutic effect

36
Q

What does ‘pharmacokinetics’ refer to in medicine?

A

How the body absorbs, distributes, metabolizes, and excretes drugs

37
Q

What is the significance of the absorption rate constant (Ka) in pharmacokinetics?

A

Indicates the speed at which a drug is absorbed into systemic circulation

38
Q

Define ‘bioavailability’ in the context of drug absorption.

A

The proportion of a drug that enters systemic circulation intact and is available for therapeutic action

39
Q

How does the first-pass effect impact drug bioavailability?

A

It reduces the concentration of a drug before it reaches systemic circulation, particularly for orally administered drugs

40
Q

What is the ‘volume of distribution’ (Vd) and why is it important?

A

A theoretical volume that indicates how extensively a drug distributes into body tissues compared to the bloodstream

41
Q

Explain the concept of drug ‘clearance’ in pharmacokinetics.

A

The rate at which a drug is removed from the body, indicating the efficiency of elimination processes

42
Q

How do protein-drug interactions influence pharmacokinetics?

A

They affect the drug’s distribution and availability, as drugs can bind to plasma or tissue proteins

43
Q

What is the significance of the half-life (T1/2) of a drug?

A

The time required for the plasma concentration of a drug to reduce by half, important for determining dosing intervals

44
Q

Describe the role of metabolism in drug processing by the body.

A

Converts drugs into more water-soluble forms for excretion and can activate or deactivate the drug

45
Q

Where is the primary site for drug metabolism?

A

Liver

46
Q

Explain the role of excretion in pharmacokinetics.

A

The process of eliminating the drug or its metabolites from the body, primarily through the kidneys

47
Q

How does renal function affect drug excretion?

A

Impaired renal function can decrease drug clearance, necessitating dosage adjustments

48
Q

What factors can influence a drug’s pharmacokinetic profile?

A

Age, weight, genetic factors, liver and kidney function, and drug interactions

49
Q

Why is understanding pharmacokinetics important in clinical practice?

A

To optimize drug dosing for efficacy and safety based on individual patient characteristics

50
Q

How do drugs reach their target sites in the body?

A

Via systemic circulation after absorption, influenced by their pharmacokinetic properties like solubility and protein binding

51
Q

What is the formula for calculating the half-life (T1/2) of a drug?

A

T1/2 = In 2 / k or 0.693 / k, where k is the elimination rate constant

52
Q

How is drug clearance (Cl) calculated?

A

Cl = Rate of elimination / Plasma drug concentration

53
Q

What are the two key parameters governs Bioavailability (F)?

A

Rate and Extent of unchanged drug absorbed into the systemic circulation from a particular dosage form.