ICS - Pharmacology Flashcards
What are the routes of administration of drugs?
Enteral (GI tract):
-Oral, rectal.
Perienteral (Non-gut):
-IV, IM, SC.
What is first pass metabolism?
When the drug is administered orally its concentration is reduced due to the liver or gut metabolising it before reaching systemic circulation.
What is bioavailability?
The amount of drug taken up as a proportion of the amount administered.
What is potency?
How much of a drug is needed to elicit a response in the body.
What is the difference between affinity and efficacy?
Affinity describes how well a ligand binds to the receptor.
Efficacy describes how well a ligand activates the receptor.
What is the difference between selectivity and specificity?
Selectivity - A drug’s ability to discriminate between related targets.
Specificity - The measure of a receptors ability to respond to a single ligand.
What is an agonist?
A compound that binds to a receptor and activates it.
What is an antagonist?
A compound that reduces the effect of an agonist.
What are the types of antagonists and how do they differ?
Competitive inhibitors - Compete with substrate for active site.
Non-competitive inhibitors - Bind away from active site to denature it so no substrate can bind in it.
What four things do drugs target?
Receptors, enzymes, transporters, ion channels.
What are the most common receptors?
G-coupled receptors.
What are examples of selective and non-selective drugs?
Beta blockers:
Propranolol - Non-selective b-blocker; binds to both b-1 and b-2.
Bisoprolol - Selective b-blocker; binds to b-1.
What drugs are examples of beta-adrenergic agonists? (selective and non-selective).
Non-selective beta agonist: Isoprenaline (b-1 and b-2).
Selective beta agonist: SABAs (b-2).
What are the main examples of drugs that target enzymes?
COX-1 and ACEi:
NSAIDs inhibits cox-1 which prevents arachidonic acid which inhibits prostaglandins. SE = GI ulcers
ACEi inhibits angiotensin-1 to angiotensin-2. SE = Hyperkalaemia, dry cough.
What are the main examples of drugs that target transporters?
Mainly PPIs and diuretics.
PPIs: Omeprazole - inhibition of H+/K+ ATPase pumps (decreased gastric pH).
Diuretics:
-Loop (furosemide) - Inhibits NKCC2 symporter in ascending limb of loop of Henle.
-Thiazides (bendroflumethiazide) - Inhibits NaCl cotransporter in DCT.
-K+ sparing (spironolactone) - Inhibits aldosterone.
What are the main examples of drugs that inhibit ion channels?
CCBs and local anaesthesia.
CCBs such as amiodarone and verapamil. Ca2+ influx causes vasoconstriction and increased contractility which is blocked.
Local anaesthesia such as lidocaine block Na+ voltage gated channels - no fast Na_ influx and no action potential.
What is the definition of pharmacokinetics?
What the body does to the drug (ADME).
What are the four factors of pharmacokinetics?
ADME - Absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion.
Describe absorption in pharmacokinetics.
Route and entry of drug into body. Enteral vs perienteral.
The bioavailability of IV is always 100%. Other routes are compared to IV. Oral medications have to undergo first pass metabolism - reduces bioavailability.
Describe distribution in pharmacokinetics.
The drug is distributed in plasma according to chemical properties and size. May be uptaken by organs (liver and brain).
This is affected by blood flow, size, lipophilic/lipophobic.
Describe metabolism in pharmacokinetics.
Drugs are mainly metabolised in the kidneys and liver. In liver there are phase I (slight hydrophilicity increase by microsomal enzymes) and phase II (hydrophilicity increased by conjugation).
Kidneys - mostly small and water soluble.
Liver - hydrophobic molecules.
Describe excretion in pharmacokinetics.
Mostly excreted in urine by kidneys and faeces.
What is pharmacodynamics?
What the drug does to the body.
What is the difference between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system (neurotransmitters)?
Sympathetic - Noradrenaline.
Parasympathetic- Acetylcholine.
What is the difference between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system?
Sympathetic - fight or flight (increased HR, bronchodilation, decreased GI mobility).
Parasympathetic - rest and digest (decreased HR, bronchoconstriction, increased GI mobility).
What is the difference between cholinergic and adrenergic pharmacology?
Cholinergic - parasympathetic
Adrenergic - sympathetic
Describe the action of Ach at neuromuscular junctions.
Synthesis, vesicle storage, release, breakdown, reuptake.
What is an example of a drug at neuromuscular junctions (cholinergic)?
Botox - Ach release is inhibited resulting in paralysis.
What is the name of overstimulation of Ach and nmj’s and what are the symptoms?
Cholinergic crisis (SLUDGE):
Salivation, lacrimation, urination, defaecation, GI distress and emesis.
What are three examples of Ach receptors?
M1 - Brain
M2 - Heart
M3 - Lungs
How is adrenaline formed?
Tyrosine - DOPA - Dopamine - Noradrenaline - Adrenaline.
What are the types of noradrenaline receptors?
Alpha or beta (a1, a2, b1, b2).
Where are alpha-1 receptors found and what does the agonism cause? Give an example.
Found in vessels and sphincters.
Agonism causes vasoconstriction, bladder contraction and pupil dilation.
Alpha blockers (tamsulosin) are a treatment for benign prostate hyperplasia as this relaxes the bladder and eases pressure.
Where are beta-1 receptors found and what are the examples of drugs?
Found in the heart.
Agonism causes increased force of contraction and increased blood pressure.
Beta-1 agonists - given in cardiogenic shock (dobutamine).
Beta-1 antagonists - bisoprolol (beta-blocker)
Where are beta-2 receptors found and what are the examples of drugs here?
Found in the lungs.
Agonism causes bronchodilation.
SABAs and LABAs are beta agonists (for asthma).
Non-selective beta blockers are antagonists (propranolol).
What are examples of dopamine receptor agonists/antagonists?
Agonists (bromocriptine) - Used in prolactinoma, acromegaly and early Parkinson’s.
Antagonists (metoclopramide) - Anti-emetic, often used for nausea and vomiting.
What is an example of a GABA receptor agonist?
Benzodiazepines - Such as larazepam and diazepam. Used for anxiety, sleep disorders and alcohol withdrawal.
What are examples of histamine antagonists?
H1 antagonists - For allergy (loraditine)
H2 antagonists - 2nd line Tx for GORD/increased gastric acid after PPIs (ranitidine).
What is an adverse drug reaction?
A response to a medicine which is noxious and unintended.