Lecture 1 Flashcards
1
Q
What is Pharmacology?
A
- It is the study of the effects of drugs and chemicals.
2
Q
What is pharmacokinetics?
A
- the study of how our body reacts to drugs
3
Q
What is Pharmacodynamics?
A
How receptors react to drugs.
4
Q
What is terfenadine?
A
- specific H1 receptor antagonist
- anti histamine
- pro-drug
5
Q
How is terfenadine metabolized?
A
Metabolized by the liver by first pass metabolism into fexofenadine which is a prodrug
6
Q
What are the adverse effects that can occur if terfenadine is not metabolized?
A
- It is a powerful blocker of certain proteins (hERG channels) that control electrical acticity and beating of the heart
- can lead to lethal cardiac arrhythmia
7
Q
Why does terfenadine have lethal effects?
A
It can inhibit the activity of certain liver enzymes involved in drug metabolism (CYP3A4)
8
Q
What is the metabolite of terfenadine?
A
Allegra
9
Q
What is a prodrug?
A
- Not intrinsically active but metabolized after administration
- first pass metabolism
10
Q
What are adverse events?
A
Undesirable drug effects which can vary
11
Q
What is pharacogenomics?
A
- Genetic background of patient can significantly affect how they react to da drug
