L1 - Pharmacology Intro Flashcards
Define: Pharmacology
The science of drugs, design and synthesis. Properties of how drugs are synthesised.
Measure effects of drugs and mechanisms - ability to be absorbed, metabolised and excreted.
Define: Pharmacy
Making drugs and make them usable. Preparing, preserving compound and dispensing drugs. Handle chemicals used for drugs.
Define: Toxicology
Look at toxic effects of drugs including actions of poisons and unwanted effects of drugs.
Define: Therapeutics
Medicinal use of drugs. How drugs can be used as remedies for diseases.
Define: Drug
Drug is a c hemically defined agent that can be used to provoke a measurable response in a biological system.
Should be able to draw a molecule of it.
Examples of drugs of abuse:
Cocaine, alcohol, nicotine, LSD, MDMA, Amphetamine.
Examples of therapeutic drugs:
Aspirin, penicillin, carbamazeoine, propranolol.
Drugs that can be used for abuse and are therapeutics:
Cannabis (cannabinoids) can be used to make medicinal drugs. Treat people who have risk to anorexia. Drug makes them feel hungry more.
Morphine and tamazepam also have medicinal applications.
Classification of drugs:
Drugs have three names:
- Proprietary name
- Common name
- Chemical name
- Usually grouped according to therapeutic use
- Or by mechanism of action.
New drugs are categorised by mechanism of action. Older ones tend to be reclassified again.
Examples:
- Disprin CV (R&C)
- Aspirin
- acetylsalicylic acid
- Analgesic, anti-platelet
- Cyclooxygenase inhibitor
Types of drugs:
Exogenous and endogenous:
Drugs are exogenous molecules - mimic/block action of endogenous molecules or systems. (can be endogenous as well). Exogenous drugs e.g. insulin can be made in labs. Given externally and works in same way as human insulin.
How do drugs work:
(on receptors, insulin, specificity and complementary):
Receptors have specific binding site for a drug. ‘Lock and Key’ theory. Drugs need to have chemical interaction to work. Receptor is specific and complementary. Drug binds to receptor and produce effect e.g. insulin is endogenous and binds to insulin receptor to carry out function.
Less likely to fall out if fits perfectly. Higher energy interaction as it is more stable.
Type of receptors:
Physiological receptors, other proteins, nucleic acids:
Physiological receptors - endogenous proteins which are receptors for endogenous compounds e.g. hormones and NT.
Other proteins: enzymes, ion channels. Drug (may not be endogenous) may bind to them and prevent function of protein. Can stimulate them but less common.
Nucleic acids - drugs may bind to regulatory sites on nucleic acids and change gene expression/ protein synthesis. Regulate gene transcription and turn on/off genes.
Define: agonist
Drug that activates receptor to prove a response. Has positive effect.
Define: antagonist
Drug prevent activation of receptors. Can prevent endogenous molecule binding to receptor. Has negative effect.
Drug interactions:
Reversible, irreversible, types of bonds, shows how much conc of drug needed:
Can be reversible or irreversible depending on interaction of drug with binding site. This determines primary effects of drugs.
If sticks well - high affinity. Less conc required to work. More efficient as can work at low conc.
If you use higher conc, more side effects.
Aspirin works by covalent bonding (irreversible). Body recovers by making new enzyme and destroy one attached to aspirin.
Ionic attractions and hydrophobic interactions allow it to be reversible. Covalent bonding means drug interaction is irreversible.
