Module 1 Flashcards
Drug pharmacokinetics, metabolism, and pharmacodynamics
What are the four pharmacokinetic properties that determine the onset, intensity, and duration of drug action?
Absorption, distribution, metabolism, elimination (ADME)
Pros of oral admin
Safest and most common, convenient, and economical route of admin
Cons of oral admin
Limited absorption of some drugs, food may affect absorption, patient compliance is necessary, subject to first-pass effect
Pros of IV admin
Can have immediate effect, ideal if dosed in large volumes, suitable for irritating substances and complex mixtures, valuable in emergency situations, dosage titration permissible, ideal for high molecular weight protein and peptide drugs
Cons of IV admin
High initial toxicity, risk of infection due to invasiveness of procedure, most substances must be slowly injected
Pros of SC admin
Suitable for slow-release drugs, ideal for some poorly soluble suspensions
Cons of SC admin
Pain or necrosis if drug is irritating, limited dose by volume
Pros of IM admin
Suitable for moderate drug volumes, suitable for oily vehicles and certain irritating substances, preferable to IV if self-admin is required
Cons of IM admin
Affects certain lab tests (creatine kinase), can be painful, can cause IM hemorrhage
Pros of transdermal (patch) admin
Bypasses first-pass effect, convenient and painless, ideal for drugs that are lipophilic and have poor oral bioavailability, ideal for drugs that are quickly eliminated
Cons of transdermal (patch) admin
Some patients may be allergic to patch which can cause irritation, drug must be highly lipophilic, may cause delayed delivery of drug to target tissue, limited to drugs that can be taken in small daily doses
Pros of rectal admin
Partially bypasses first-pass effect, bypasses destruction by stomach acid, ideal for drugs that may cause vomiting and in patients who are vomiting or comatose
Cons of rectal admin
Drugs may irritate rectal mucosa, not a well-accepted route
Pros of admin by inhalation
Absorption is rapid and can have immediate effects, ideal for gases, effective for patients with respiratory problems, dose can be titrated, localized effect to target lungs, fewer systemic side effects
Cons of admin by inhalation
Most addictive route (drug can enter brain quickly), patient may have difficulty regulating dose
Pros of sublingual admin
Bypasses first-pass effect, bypasses destruction by stomach acid, drug stability maintained due to relatively neutral pH of saliva, may cause immediate pharmacological effects
Cons of sublingual admin
Limited to certain types of drugs and drugs that can be taken in small doses, may lose part of drug dose if swallowed
Absorption
The transfer of a drug from the site of administration to the bloodstream
Distribution
The process by which a drug reversibly leaves the bloodstream and enters the interstitium (extracellular fluid) and the tissues
Passive diffusion
When a drug moves from a region of high concentration to one of lower concentration (the vast majority of drugs are absorbed by this mechanism)
Facilitated diffusion
The passage of drugs or endogenous molecules into the interior of cells from a region of high concentration to one of low concentration through specialized transmembrane carrier proteins that undergo conformational changes (no energy required)
Active transport
An energy-dependent process of drug transportation into the cell, occurring against a concentration gradient, that involves specific carrier proteins which span the cell membrane
Endocytosis/exocytosis
A mechanism used to transport drugs of exceptionally large size across the cell membrane which involves engulfment of the drug by the cell membrane and transport into/out of the cell by pinching off a drug-filled vesicle
What is the effect of pH of the permeability of drugs through lipid membranes?
pH influences the charge of drugs causing weak acids (aspirin) to be better absorbed in an acidic environment (stomach) due to protonation which neutralizes their charge. Drugs that are weak bases are therefore better absorbed in an alkaline environment (duodenum) due to deprotonation which neutralizes their charge.
How does blood flow of the absorption site influence drug absorption?
Drug absorption is favored in an absorption site with high blood flow (duodenum) over a site with low blood flow (stomach)
How does surface area of the absorption site influence drug absorption?
Drug absorption increases with increased surface area of absorption site making absorption in the intestine (with brush borders containing microvilli) much more efficient than in the stomach
How does contact time at the absorption site influence drug absorption?
Drug absorption increases with slowed gastric emptying into the intestine (increased contact time) and decreases when a drug moves too quickly through the GI tract as can happen with severe diarrhea
How does expression of P-glycoprotein influence drug absorption?
In areas of high P-glycoprotein expression, drug absorption is reduced due to this transmembrane transporter’s involvement in pumping drugs out of the cells and into the blood. P-glycoprotein is also associated with multidrug resistance.
Bioavailability (F)
The rate and extent to which an administered drug reaches the systemic circulation.
How does first-pass hepatic metabolism impact bioavailability?
When a drug is absorbed from the GI tract, it enters the portal circulation before entering the systemic circulation. If the drug is rapidly metabolized in the liver or gut wall during this initial passage, the amount of unchanged drug entering the systemic circulation is decreased.
How does solubility of a drug impact bioavailability?
Extremely hydrophilic drugs are poorly absorbed because of their inability to cross lipid-rich cell membranes whereas extremely lipophilic drugs are also poorly absorbed because they are totally insoluble in aqueous body fluids (blood) preventing them from gaining access to the surface of cells. A drug must be largely lipophilic but also have some solubility in aqueous solutions for it to be readily absorbed (weak acid or base).
How does drug chemical stability impact bioavailability?
A drug must be chemically stable in the pH of the GI tract in order for it to reach the systemic circulation.
How does drug formulation impact bioavailability?
Particle size, salt form, crystal polymorphism, enteric coatings, and the presence of excipients can influence the ease of dissolution and alter the rate of drug absorption.
How does blood flow influence distribution?
“Vessel-rich organs” such as the brain, liver, and the kidneys permit rapid distribution whereas organs with slower rates of blood flow result in slower distribution.
How does capillary permeability influence distribution?
In the liver and spleen, a significant portion of the basement membrane is exposed due to large discontinuous capillaries through which large plasma proteins can pass (called slit junctions). In the brain the capillary structure is continuous and there are no slit junctions. To enter the brain, drugs must pass through the endothelial cells of the CNS or be actively transported.
How does plasma protein binding influence distribution?
Reversible binding to plasma proteins (albumin) sequesters drugs in a nondiffusible form and slows their transfer out of the vascular compartment. Many drugs accumulate in tissues leading to higher concentrations in tissues than in extracellular fluid and blood.
How does lipophilicity of a drug influence distribution?
The more lipophilic a drug is, the easier it is for it to cross cell membranes and penetrate the cell surface.