Introduction to Pharmacology Flashcards
1
Q
What is a drug?
A
A chemical substance of a known structure that can be administered to a living organism
2
Q
How do drugs work?
A
- prevent occurrence of disease
- restore normal function
- alter activity of compensatory pathway
- interfere with biological processes
3
Q
What are sites of the drug action?
A
- anatomical sites of action (heart, blood vessels)
- nervous systems
- receptors and transporters
- ion channes
- enzymes
4
Q
How do drugs make specific interactions with their target?
A
- shape
- flexibility
- chemical groups present
5
Q
What are off-targets?
A
- unintended biological molecules
6
Q
What are receptors?
A
- target molecules
- physiological mediators produce effects
7
Q
How are receptors classified?
A
- sequence of genes
- function
- ligand and their class that denotes this
- type and subtype based on pharmacological characteristic
8
Q
Give an example of a drug target as a receptor
A
- Salbutamol
- adrenoreceptor to treat asthma
9
Q
Give an example of a drug target as an ion channel
A
- lidocaine
- anaesthetic
10
Q
What is intracellular signalling?
A
- drug targets
- second messenger offers downstream targets
- has potential to avoid side effects
11
Q
Name an example of drug targets as a transcription factor
A
Hydrocortisone as a steroid to treat inflammation