Intro to Pharma of Nervous System Flashcards
What is a drug?
A chemical substance that interacts with a specific target within a specific target within a biological system to produce a physiologic effect
What are the 3 characteristics to question about a drug?
Effect, target and response
What are the 4 main targets that drugs interact with?
Receptors, enzymes, transport proteins, ion channels
what is the target for Atorvastatin?
blocks enzymes, used for hypertension
what is the target for Amlodipine?
Blocks calcium ion channels, used for hypertension
what is the target for Salbutamol?
Binds to receptor, enhances activation of target to open up airway, used as treatment for asthma
what is the target for Citalopram?
An SSRI, used for depression
What are the two types of effects can a drug have?
Drugs can either enhance or prevent activation
Why is it more important for drugs to have a high specificity than endogenous compounds like neurotransmitters?
Because endogenous contents are produced in they body only where they are needed, with the respective receptors nearby, whilst drugs which are ingested will circulate the whole body, thus could interact with more than one receptor.
What is the difference of an adverse effect compared to a side effect?
An adverse effect is a side effect which has a negative impact on health.
Why does an increase in dose lead to aaa increase in side effects?
Because the higher the drug concentration, the more probably the drug will bind to receptors which are similar to its target receptor, due to a cumulative effect. (ie. selectivity is slowly lost)
What other interaction can cause side effects?
The drug can bind to the target receptor, but in an unwanted location, which will have other unwanted effects.
Which drugs are there safest?
The drugs which have the largest difference between the dose require to be effective and the dose required to induce side/adverse effects
