Pharamcology Basics

Question 1

What is Pharmacodynamics?

Answer 1

what the natural substance or drug does to the body

Question 2

What is Pharmacokinetics?

Answer 2

what the body does to a natural substance or drug

Question 3

What is homeostasis?

Answer 3

any self-regulating process by which an organism tends to maintain stability while adjusting to conditions that are best for survival

Question 4

What is the process for homeostasis?

Answer 4

environment - external conditions that affect the organism
chemical changes - the internal changes that occur in response to environmental stimuli, part of the body’s response to keep internal conditions stable
body and brain changes - the chemical changes in the body are registered by the brain, leading to alterations in the body’s functions to counteract the enviromental changes

Question 5

How are drugs processed by the body?

Answer 5

drugs are absorbed, distributed, metabolized and eliminated by the body

Question 6

What is a receptor?

Answer 6

target/site of action of a compound in the body or a drug or a normal product

Question 7

What is the lock and key analogy?

Answer 7

lock - receptor acts as lock, key - drug acts as key , the combination yields a response

Question 8

What is a natural agonist?

Answer 8

natural substance in the body that binds to a receptor and activates it

Question 9

What is an example of a natural agonist? (adrenoceptor and opioid)

Answer 9

adrenoceptor - adrenaline, epinehrine
opioid - endorphins

Question 10

What is a natural product agonist?

Answer 10

natural substance from a plant that binds to a receptor and activates it

Question 11

What is an example of a natural product agonist? (adrenoceptor and opioid)

Answer 11

adrenoceptor - ephedrine
opioid - morphine extracted from poppy plant

Question 12

What is an agonist drug?

Answer 12

drug made in lab that mimics the natural substance in the body, it binds to the receptor and activates it

Question 13

What is an antagonist drug?

Answer 13

drug made in lab that binds to receptor but doesn’t activate it, prevents the agonist from accessing the receptor

Question 14

What is an example of an agonist drug?

Answer 14

adrenoceptor - salbutamol/ventolin
opioid - fentanyl, oxycodone

Question 15

What is an example of an antagonist drug?

Answer 15

adrenoceptor - propranolol
opioid - naloxone used in OD

Question 16

What are the clinical uses of adrenoceptor agonists?

Answer 16

anaphylactic shock, cardiac arrest, asthma and decongestant

Question 17

What are the clinical uses of adrenoceptor antagonists?

Answer 17

high blood pressure, migraine, tremor and anxiety

Question 18

How does the liver degrade drugs?

Answer 18

the cytochrome P-450 enzyme transforms drugs into more water soluble metabolites

Question 19

How do the kidneys excrete drugs?

Answer 19

traps water-soluble (ionized) compounds for elimination via urine

Question 20

How do the lungs excrete drugs?

Answer 20

alcohol on breath

Question 21

Why is receptor specificity important in drug action?

Answer 21

Receptor specificity determines the selectivity of drug action, affecting targeted effects and reducing unwanted side effects by interacting only with specific receptors.

Question 22

Compare the pharmacokinetics of inhalation versus oral administration.

Answer 22

nhalation provides rapid onset of action as drugs enter the bloodstream directly from the lungs, whereas oral administration involves slower absorption via the digestive tract and a first-pass metabolism effect in the liver.

Question 23

How does enzyme inhibition affect drug metabolism?

Answer 23

Enzyme inhibition can slow down the metabolism of drugs, leading to increased drug levels in the body and potentially enhancing both efficacy and risk of toxicity.

Question 24

How can drugs impact homeostasis?

Answer 24

Drugs can affect homeostasis by altering physiological balances such as blood pressure, body temperature, and glucose levels, either restoring or disrupting normal body functions.