Introduction to Medical Pharmacology Flashcards
Overview of the importance of pharmacology in medicine
<p>What is pharmacology?</p>
<p>The study of the sources, uses, effect, and mechanisms of action of drugs.</p>
<p>What is pharmacodynamics?</p>
<p>What drugs do to the body.</p>
<p>What is pharmacokinetics?</p>
<p>What the body does to the drugs.</p>
<p>What is a drug?</p>
<p>A drug is a chemical which is utilized for the diagnosis, prevention, cure or amelioration of an unwanted health condition in humans.</p>
<p>All drugs are chemicals; BUT not all chemicals are drugs.</p>
<p>All drugs are poisons; BUT not all poisons are drugs.</p>
<p>What is toxicology?</p>
<p>Toxicology is a branch of pharmacology that deals with undesirable/unwanted effects of chemicals on living systems.</p>
<p>Define therapeutic index.</p>
<p>Therapeutic Index (TI) = TD50/ED50</p>
<ul> <li>ED50: Dose produces specified “therapeutic effect” in 50% of animals<br></br> </li> <li>TD50: Dose produces toxic/adverse effect in 50% of animals</li></ul>
<p>How does therapeutic index relate to drug margin of safety?</p>
<p>The higher the TI, the safer the drug, the wider the Margin of Safety</p>
<ul> <li>Higher TI drugs: e.g. Ranitidine, omeprazole, diazepam - higher safety<br></br> </li> <li>Lower TI drugs: e.g. theophylline, warfarin - lower safety</li></ul>
<p>List at least 5 factors that can influence the severity of drug adverse effects</p>
<p>Severity of adverse drug effects can be different by gender, genetic make-up, age, pregnancy, underlying pathology, immunity, drug-drug interaction.</p>
<p>Name at least TWO factors on each side of the therapeutic balance of risk-benefit ratio for patients.</p>
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<p>Risk: Toxic effects, Cost, Inconvenience of administration.</p>
<p>Benefits: Reduced morbidity, Improved quality of life, Effectiveness, Ease of administration (e.g., tablets)</p>
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<p>List FIVE steps in rationale prescribing.</p>
<ol> <li>Making a diagnosis</li> <li>Consideration of treatment options</li> <li>Prescription</li> <li>Patient counselling</li> <li>Monitoring</li></ol>
<p>List at least THREE<strong> patient factors </strong>and THREE<strong>drug factors</strong>that should be considered when making a prescription.</p>
<p><strong>Patient factors</strong></p>
<ol> <li>Age and gender</li> <li>Interacting diseases</li> <li>Interacting drugs</li> <li>Genetics</li></ol>
<p><strong>Drug factors</strong></p>
<ol> <li>Pharmacokinetics</li> <li>Pharmacodynamics</li> <li>Evidence-base</li> <li>Cost-effectiveness</li></ol>
<p>Why do doctors need to know pharmacology?</p>
<p>Because knowledge of pharmacology saves lives.</p>
<p>What are the three regulatory categories regulating sale of medicines?</p>
<p>1.Over-the-Counter Medicines (General Sales) </p>
<ul> <li>Examples: antacids, paracetamol, aspirin</li></ul>
<p>2.Pharmacy-Only-Medicines</p>
<ul> <li>Examples: antifungal creams, cough medicines, antidiarrhoeals</li></ul>
<p>3.Prescription-Only-Medicines (by registered Medical Practitioners)</p>
<ul> <li>Examples: antibiotics, antihypertensive, anti-diabetics…</li></ul>
