ICS: Pharmacology (with Prescribing) Flashcards
two main physiological factors of a patient to consider when prescribing
- renal disease (=kidney!!)
- hepatic disease (liver!)
define synergy
- where action of two or more drugs combine
- can be positive or negative
example of synergy
paracetamol & codeine: increases analgesic effect
define antagonism
one drug blocking the mechanism of another
define pharmacokinetics
action of the body on the drug: how it’s broken down
factors affecting pharmacokinetics
or = p. kinetics = (ADME)
- absorption
- distribution: bloodstream, fats, protein binding
- metabolism: how is it broken down and
- excreted
factors affecting absorption of a drug
- motility
- acidity of the drug
- solubility of bloods
- formation of drug
- action on enterocytes (grapefruit juice inhibit drug transporter!)
What is an important SE of erythromycin?
direct GI stimulation therefore affecting motility of drug
Which particular food may change how warfarin is absorbed?
Avocado - has been shown to decrease effectiveness of warfarin, therefore increasing risk of clotting.
- stays in GI tract longer due to high fat content
- also a CYP450 inductor - increases drug metabolism so gone before it makes a diff
Ginger also reduce effectiveness of anticoag so + risk of bleeding
what is a prodrug?
a drug that needs to be broken down in order to work
what are CYP450’s
cytochrome P450
- hemeproteins - in mito or ER
- metabolises many substrates, most drugs undergo deactivation by CYPs direct or facilitated
- regulates detox (= defence mechanism)
- class 1, 2, 3 most important in humans
two ways, involving CYP450, through which the metabolism process of a drug can be affected
inhibition & induction
define inhibition?
drug A, inhibiting CYP 450, blocks the metabolism of drug B, leaving more free drug B in the plasma therefore increasing effect of drug B
Examples of food CYP450 inhibitors? (3)
grapefruit juice (CCB), soya (NSAID, warf)
→ they decrease metabolism of a drug = increase effectiveness / build up toxicity
define induction?
drug C induces CYP450 isoenzyme, leading to increased metabolism of drug D resulting in decreased therapeutic effects of drug D
drugs that induces CYP450?
(beautiful mnemonic)
CRAP GPS induces my rage (increase drug met so gone before effect)
- carbamazepine
- rifampin
- alcohol
- phenytoin
- griseofulvin
- phenobarbital
- sulfonylureas
significance of grapefruit juice on medications
- inhibit p-glycoprotein - a drug transporter - therefore affects absorption of the drug
- CYP450 inhibitor - subtype CYP3A4 → can make a drug more effective/toxic as it stays longer in body
significance of st john’s wort (Hypericum perforatum) on medications
CYP450 inductor = increases metabolism of medications = makes them less effective.
on Warfarin, digoxin, cyclosporin, phenytoin, antiretrovirals
how are drugs first broken down in the liver, and in the kidneys?
- most are renal excretion = kidneys, which is pH dependent
- some are biliary excretion
pH principles in relation to excretion of a drug
- most drugs are excreted renally, which is pH dependent
- clears faster if urine is opposite pH of drug
- weak bases - cleared faster if urine acidic
- weak acids - cleared faster if urine is alkali
define bioavailability
amount of drug that reaches the systemic circulation as a proportion of amount administered
method of administration with the highest bioavailability
IV
bioavailability formula
AUC oral / AUC IV x 100
What other factors can reduce bioavailability other than method administered
- area of gut
- gastric pH!
define pharmacodynamics
action of the drug on the body: how the drug is used and its effect on cellular receptors via signal transduction
what types of ligands can there be?
ligands can be exogenous (drugs) or endogenous (hormones, neurotransmitters etc)!
types of receptors a drug can target?
- ligand gated ion channels (nicotinic ACh receptor, binding allows + to move in)
- G protein coupled receptors (muscarinic, beta 2 adreno)
- Kinase linked receptors (for growth factors - tyrosine phosphorylation)
- cytosolic / nuclear receptors (for steroids - can modify gene transcription)
Briefly outline how will a ligand-fated ion channel act as a receptor fro drugs
- pore forming membrane proteins, allows ions to pass through the channel pore
- ligand is the interactor which allows pore to open and move
- once open, transduce external signals to inside of the cell
Briefly outline how will a G protein coupled receptor work as a receptor for drugs
- transmembrane receptors, targeted by > 30% of drugs
- changes conformation: hydrolyse GTP to GDP = switch on or off, elicit downstream signalling for effect of the receptor
- majority of GPCR interact with PLC or AC
Briefly outline how will a kinase linked receptor work as a receptor for drugs
- kinase = enzymes that catalyze the transfer of phosphate groups between proteins (= phosphorylation)
- so regulating phosphorylation = way to activate signalling
- extracellular bind = intracellular activity = transmembrane signalling
- kinase themselves can be ligands
Briefly outline how will a cytosolic / nuclear receptor work as a receptor for drugs
- works by modifying gene transcription (activate or repress)
- e.g. tamoxifen
examples of diseases where an imbalance of chemicals led to pathology?
- allergy: increased histamine
- parkinson’s: decreased dopamine
examples of diseases where an imbalance of receptors led to pathology?
- myasthenia gravis: loss of nicotonic ACh receptors
- mastocytosis: increase in C-kit receptor
what is the two state model of receptor activation?
describes how drugs activate receptors by inducing or supporting a conformational change in the receptor from ‘off’ to ‘on’
define agonist
- binds to receptor and **activates it**
- can be full or partial
- e.g. salbutamol (asthma) = beta 2 agonist
define antagonist
- binds to receptor and prevents its activation
- can be reversible or irreversible
- main site or allosteric site
- e.g. propanolol = beta blocker
define potency
binding affinity of the drug to the receptor = how well a drug works
What does it mean to say that drug A is more potent than drug B?
Lower concentrations of drug A will give an equal or greater response than drug B
= aka drug A is more efficacious than drug B
what is EC50
concentration of a drug that gives half the maximal response
significance of a narrow therapeutic range
- increased risk of toxicity
- decreased chance of effective dose
- e.g. digoxin, lithium, genta/vancomycin
SE simvastatin when prescribed with a potential interactor
Rhabdomyolysis = muscle aches
SE warfarin when prescribed with a potential interactor (antibiotic mycins, amiodarone, opioid)
Increased risk of bleeding
How would you combat warfarin interactive SE?
Monitor INR (= prothrombin time, time for the blood to clot) at day 3, then weekly up to 4 weeks post commencement
SE SSRI when prescribed with TCA & tramadol
serotonin syndrome
What is the triple whammy?
- NSAID or COX2
- ACE-i
- Dehydration or furosemide
gives you major renal failure
What does the concentration response curve describe?
- amount of response per amount of stimuli (dose)
- always on a log scale, sigmoid curve shape
Define efficacy
maximum response achievable, how well a ligand activates the receptor
(only agonists show this! antagonist doesn’t activate!)
Define intrinsic activity
ability of drug receptor complex to produce a maximum functional response
= Emax of partial agonist / Emax of full agonist
Define affinity
describes how well a ligand binds to the receptor
(shown in both antagonist and agonist!)
What is receptor reserve?
= spare receptors
property a tissue needs to have should it be targeted by full agonists (full = block all receptors!)
Difference between a full agonist and a partial agonist
in full agonists - all receptors will be blocked so there needs to be a receptor reserve
in partial agonists - even if all receptors are occupied, max response is not seen
What is signal amplification?
- a signal cascade is initiated before a response
- signal amplification will determine how powerful response will be, but it does not necessarily equal to amplified response!
What is allosteric modulation?
Binding of an allosteric ligand to a receptor can affect the effect of an agonist on the receptor
- can be modulation in affinity or efficacy
- modulation can be positive = allosteric or negative = orthosteric
- benzodiazepine = allosteric ligand
Define tolerance?
= reduction in drug (agonist) effect over time
- seen with continuous, repeated high concentration over drug over time
What is desensitisation of receptors?
- three ways: uncoupled, internalised, degraded receptors → binding is affected
- rapid process!
Term to describe specificity of drug?
- no drug is ever truly specific ;)
- selective is the better term
Which enzyme is a known clot buster?
Streptokinase
How do NSAIDs work?
by inhibiting COX enzymes which takes part in prostaglandin synthesis
Actions of NSAIDs?
- analgesic
- anti-pyretic
- anti-inflammatory
Role of COX enzymes in prostaglandin synthesis?
breaks down arachidonic acid into prostaglandin H2
NSAIDs competitively inhibit COX enzymes so a. acid cannot reach active site
prostaglandin effect
- group of lipids made at site of tissue damage / infection
- controls inflammation, blood flow, formation of blood clots and induction of labor
Forms of COX enzymes?
COX 1 - found normally and widely in the body
COX 2 - this is induced, and found mainly in inflammation only!
Types of NSAIDs and how they act on COX enzymes
Aspirin - non-selective, irreversibly blocks active site = inactivation of both COX enzymes
= also reduce platelet aggr
Celecoxib / etoricoxib - selective, only act on COX-2
= reduces GI effects
How do Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi) work?
- blocks action of ACE therefore blocks the conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II
- angiotensin II = vasoconstrictor
- blocked A-II = reduced peripheral vascular resistance (afterload)
- also aldosterone level is reduced so sodium and water excretion promoted
Indications of ACEi’s
- hypertension
- chronic heart failure
- ischaemic heart disease
- diabetic neuropathy and CKD with proteinuria
Examples of ACEi’s
ramipril, lisinopril, perindopril
Important SE of ACEi !!!
dry cough!
also dizziness after first dose (from profound hypotension - titrate up)
How do statins work? (3)
- reduce serum cholesterol levels by inhibiting HMG CoA reductase, enzyme involved in making cholesterol
- decrease cholesterol production by liver and increase LDL clearance from blood
- indirectly reduce triglyceride and slightly increase HDL levels
Actions of statins?
- reduce cholesterol / triglyceride production, LDL levels
- slow the atherosclerotic process or reverse it
Indications of statins?
- prim and second prevention of cardiovascular events
- primary hyperlipidaemia
SE and interactions for statins?
- headache, GI disturbances
- metabolism reduced by cytochrome P450 inhibitors (amiodarone, macrolides)
three types of protein ports and how they work?
- uniporter - uses ATP to pull one molecule in
- symporter - uses movement of one molecule to pull in another against [gradient]
- antiporter - uses movement of one substance moving down the gradient (usually Na+, K+ or H+) to transport another substance against its gradient
Example of medication that targets a symporter to achieve therapeutic effect?
loop diuretics e.g. furosemide, bumetanide
- inhibits sodium-potassium chloride co transporter (NKCC) in ascending loop of henle by binding to it
- causes Cl & K loss in urine
indications of loop diuretics?
- relief of breathlessness in acute pulmonary oedema
- fluid overload in both chronic heart failure and other oedematous states
Types of channels a drug can target (major elements)?
Sodium, Calcium, Potassium, Chloride
Example of medication that targets epithelial sodium channels?
- amiloride & thiazide
How do thiazides work? Indication?
- thiazide diuretics inhibit the Na/Cl co-transporter in the distal convoluted tube of the nephron → prevents reabsorption of sodium → diuretic
- also vasodilate but mechanism unknown
- indication = hypertension, first line alt or add on
SE & CI thiazide diuretics?
- hyponatraemia
- hypokalaemia → cardiac arrhythmia
- CI gout as reduce uric acid excretion
Examples of thiazide diuretics?
thiazide - bendroflumethiazide
thiazide like - indapamide, chlortalidone (works the same)
Example of medication that targets voltage gated calcium channels?
Calcium Channel Blockers = CCB’s
e.g. amlodipine, nifedipine, diliazem, verapamil
How do CCB’s work?
- decreases movement of calcium into vascular smooth muscle and cardiac muscle cells → relaxation and vasodilation
- within heart, it reduces myocardial contractility, suppress conduction
- reduced cardiac rate, contractility and afterload reduce myocardial oxygen demand → prevents angina
Types of CCB’s?
- Dihydropyridines = selective for vasculature = amlodipine & nifedipine
- Non-dihydropyridines = more selective for the heart = verapamil & diltiazem (some effect on blood ves)
CCB indications?
- all CCB’s = stable angina (alt = beta blocker)
- amlodipine (& nifedipine but less) - 2nd line hypertension & CVD prevent
- diltiazem & verapamil = rate control in supraventricular tachy, AF, flutter
Important and common SE of amlodipine (& nifedipine)
- peripheral oedema
- flushing, headaches, palpitations
Common SE verapamil
- constipation
- more seriously, bradycardia, heart block and cardiac failure
- diltiazem = any of them
Medication which targets voltage gated sodium channels?
lidocaine - anaesthetic
= blocks transmission of action potential in voltage gated sodium channels.
→ reduces arrhythmia!
What does it mean if a channel is voltage gated
action potential will induce a conformational change of the channel
Medication which targets voltage gated potassium channels?
Sulphonylureas → lowers blood glucose
Where are voltage gated potassium channels found?
- in excitable tissues like muscles and neurones (selective for K=)
- beta islets of Langerhans - regulates insulin in pancreas
How do sulphonylureas work?
stimulates pancreatic insulin secretion by
- blocks ATP dependent K+ channels in pancreatic beta cells
- membrane depolarise, calcium channels open → stimulating insulin secretion
Indications for sulphonylureas & SE?
- mono or with metformin
- DM type 2, but only effective if patient has residual pancreatic function
- SE weight gain (insulin = anabolic hormone!), GI upset, hypo, rarely hypersensitive reaction (hepatic, blood, rash etc)
Medication that targets the sodium potassium pump?
Digoxin
How does the NA/K pump work
- antiporter: moves both against their [gradient]
- 3 NA out against every 2 K ions
Define inotropic
related to force of contraction of the muscle - positive = increase etc
Define chronotropic
related to change in heart rate
How does digoxin work?
- competes with K to bind to Na/K ATPase pump
- inhibits Na/K ATPase pump causing Na to accumulate in cell thereby increasing contractile force (inotropic), treating heart failure
- increase vagal (parasympathetic) tone, reducing conduction at AV node thereby preventing some impulse transmission to ventricles, treating AF** and **flutter.
Digoxin - SE & CI?
- SE typical present: GI upset, brady, rash, dizziness, visual disturbance (yellow vision)
- CI renal failure, heart block (2nd and interm), ventricular arrhythm, preexisting electrolyte disturbances (
Digoxin - indication
- AF and flutter but rarely on its own, also beta blocker and CCB better
- severe heart failure, preexisting AF or later option for those already on ACEi, beta blocker and an ald antag / angiotensin receptor blocker
Medication that inhibits K/H ATP-ase irreversibly to induce therapeutic effect?
omeprazole
How do Proton Pump Inhibitors work?
They reduce gastric acid secretion - by:
- irreversibly inhibiting H/K ATPase in gastric parietal cells
- ( = inhibited proton pump responsible for secreting H+ and generating gastric acid)
- = almost complete suppression
Proton Pump Inhibitors - indications!
- prevention and treatment of peptic ulcers including those assoc. w/ NSAIDs
- Symptomatic relief of dyspepsia and GORD
- eradication of Helicobacter pylori (combined with antibiotics - clarithromycin / metronidazole & amoxicillin & PPI)
Examples of PPI’s!
lansoprazole, omeprazole, pantoprazole
PPIs - SE & CI
- SE GI disturbances & headache
- CI elderly at risk of osteoporosis
3 main fluid compartments of the body?
- intracellular - ⅔ of body weight
- extracellular - ⅓ of body weight
- interstitial fluid - ¾ of e.cell
- plasma fluid - ¼ of e. cell
Principle of drug distribution & exactly how are they distributed to compartments?
- drug is distributed in plasma according to chemical properties and molecular size
- proteins / large molecules → plasma
- water soluble molecules → plasma & interstitial compartment
- lipid soluble molecules → intracellular fluid
How would you calculate the volume of distribution of a drug?
Volume of distribution = total amount of drug in body / concentration of drug in plasma
= volume a drug would occupy if it was distributed through all the compartments as if they were all plasma
e.g.’s of drugs found in each fluid compartment?
Plasma
- warfarin
Interstitial
- Aspirin / other NSAIDs
- antibiotics
Intracellular
- ster/opioids
- Paracetamol
- local anaes
- Amiodarone!
Define clearance?
Removal of drug from plasma by either liver or kidney
From which compartment is a drug eliminated?
Plasma!
How can clearance be measured?
- volume of plasma that is completely cleared of drug per unit time
- rate at which plasma drug is eliminated per unit plasma concentration
What are some ways to measure renal clearance?
- renal blood flow (18% of cardiac output 1L/min)
- renal plasma flow (60% of blood flow 600ml/min)
- glomerular filtrate (12% of renal blood flow 130 ml/min)