L59. Pharmacology Flashcards
What is pharmacology the study of?
The action of drugs on living systems.
What is pharmacodynamics?
What drugs do to the body
What is pharmacokinetics?
What the body does to the drug.
If a drug is discovered by serendipity, what does this mean?
Discovered by accident
Give the 3 types of names a drug can have with examples.
- Chemical (3-methyl etc)
- Generic (Fluoexitine)
- Proprietary (trade name) eg Prozac
Describe the mechanisms of a local anaesthetic.
Local anaesthetic binds to the intracellular side of the Na+ channel.
This prevents Na+ influx, depolarisation, action potential propagation therefore prevents the perception of pain.
What type of conduction does local anaesthetic cause?
Reversible block of nerve conduction
Give an important feature of the local anaesthetic in order for it to work.
Must be able to diffuse across the nerve cell membrane to the intracellular site and bind to the target site.
Give a chemical feature of local anaesthetics relating to pH.
They are weak bases (proton acceptors)
Name the type of anaesthesia often used in Dentistry.
Nerve block anaesthesia
Name the 2 types of drug response which are important.
Graded
Quantal
What is a graded response?
The response is relative to the dose.
What is a quantal response?
“all of nothing” response
What is potency?
A measure of the dose/concentration of a drug at which it is effective.
What is a potent drug?
One which is effective at low doses/concentrations.
