Lecture 1: Intro to Pharmacology Flashcards
How do drugs exert their effects?
By binding to receptors in our bodies and triggering a functional change
What is Pharmacodynamics?
The detailed interaction of drugs at the molecular level. The specific actions of drugs at its receptors
What is Pharmacokinetics?
All the steps in the body before the drug reaches its target receptor in the body. The distributions and absorption properties of drugs that determine the specific concentration that a receptor will see
What is the generic name of Terfenadine?
Seldane
What target was Terfenadine initially believed to act on?
The H1 receptor (the histamine receptor)
How was it thought that Terfenadine worked?
It was an H1 receptor antagonist so it prevented the activation of H1 receptors by histamine
How did Terfenadine actually work?
It was metabolized by the liver and converted to fexofenadine which is the actual antagonist of the H1 receptor
What is a Prodrug?
A compound that is not intrinsically active and is activated by some metabolic step after administration
What is a Receptor?
The molecular target of a drug
Through what process is Terfenadine metabolized?
Through “first pass metabolism” in the liver
What kind of principles are the principles of a drug being activated or deactivated?
These are Pharmacokinetics principles
What could happen if Terfenadine is not completely processed by the liver?
It could have unintentional effects on the heart
How can Terfenadine affect the heart?
It can block certain ion channels in the heart that control electrical activity that underlies the heart beat
What are Off-Target Effects?
When drugs are not perfectly specific for one receptor type and can influence closely related receptors or completely unrelated receptors
What are Adverse events?
Undesirable drug effects that can vary in severity
