Intro To Pharmacology Flashcards
Characteristics of drugs
Therapeutic applications
Interactions
Side effects
Mechanisms of action (moa)
What is pharmacology?
Pharmacology is the study of drugs; it includes how drugs are administered, where they travel in the body, and the responses they produce in interrelated subject areas such as: anatomy and physiology, chemistry, microbiology, pathophysiology
What do therapeutics and pharmacology have in common?
They are both concerned with prevention of disease and treatment of suffering.
What is a drug?
A drug is a chemical agent capable of producing a biological response.
What is a medication?
A medically therapeutic drug; synthesized in a laboratory, produces biological responses in the body
What are biologics?
Naturally produced in animal cells, microorganisms, and the human body. Examples: hormones, monoclonal antibodies, natural blood products and components, interferon, vaccines
Advantages of prescription drugs
Healthcare provider examines the client and orders a specific drug
Amount and frequency of drug is controlled
Instruction on use, interactions and side effects of drug are identified and monitored
Disadvantages of prescription drugs
Require a prescription to obtain
Need for healthcare provider appointment/approval
Advantages of OTC drugs
No healthcare provider appointment required
Often less expensive than prescription drugs
Disadvantages of OTC drugs
Client may choose the wrong drug
Client may not know reactions or interactions
Ineffective treatment may result in progression of disease
What does the Biologics and Genetic Therapies Directorate do?
Regulates biologic drugs
Regulates radiopharmaceuticals
Examples: blood products, vaccines, tissues, organs, and gene therapy products
What does the Natural Health Products Directorate do?
Regulates the sale and use of natural health products
Scientists from NHPD conduct a thorough review of the safety and appropriate use of each product before it can be authorized for sale
What is the drug approval process in Canada?
Preclinical studies Clinical trial application Clinical trials: phases 1-3 New drug submission Permit Monitoring
How are drugs organized?
Therapeutic classification
Pharmacological classification
What is the therapeutic classification of drugs?
based on what the drug does clinically
What is the pharmacological classification of drugs?
Based on how the drug produces its effect - addresses MOA
More specific than therapeutic classification - requires understanding of biochemistry and physiology
Examples: calcium channel blockers, diuretics, vasodilators
What are prototype drugs?
They serve as models for the drug class that they represent
Are used to compare other drugs in same pharmacological class
Are well researched and understood
Have known action and adverse effects
May not be the most widely prescribed
Newer drugs in the same class may have replaced its use because they: are more effective, have more favourable safety profile, have longer duration of action
Drug names (3)
Chemical
Generic
Trade
What are chemical drug names?
Describe physical and chemical properties of a drug
Complicated, difficult to remember and pronounce
Drugs are sometimes classified by a portion of their chemical structure
What are trade drug names?
Assigned by the company marketing the drug - short and easy to remember
AKA proprietary, product, or brand name
Trade name is capitalized
What are generic drug names?
Use of generic names increases safety, as they are created to not look or sound like any other drug
Less complicated and easier to remember
Describes active ingredients
Written in lower case
What are prescribing restrictions on drugs?
National and provincial authorities set out prescribing restrictions on drugs and dictate the level of professional intervention - determines who can write prescriptions for what drugs.
What are controlled substances?
Drugs that are frequently abused, have a high potential for addiction or dependence (physical or psychological), have restricted use, are placed into one of five schedules.
Dispensed for only specific conditions and disease
Must be labelled with “C” on the outside the container - Prescription drugs have “PR” and narcotics have “N”
Which schedule of drugs have highest potential for abuse?
Schedule 1 drugs have highest potential for abuse
