pharmaceutical chemistry

Question 1

what is a drug?

Answer 1

substances that alter the biochemical processes of the body

Question 2

what type of weak forces are associated with the binding at receptors?

Answer 2

hydrogen bonding and electrostatic attractions

Question 3

what happens when a drug binds to the receptor site on a cell?

Answer 3

triggers a biological response within the cell

Question 4

how do drugs work?

Answer 4

they act on a receptor site either to mimic the response of a natural active compound or to block the effect of a natural compound

Question 5

what is an agonist?

Answer 5

mimics the natural compound and binds to the receptor molecules to produce a response similar to the body’s natural active compound

Question 6

what is an antagonist?

Answer 6

prevents the natural compound from binding to the receptor and so blocks the action of the body’s natural active compound

Question 7

example of an agonist:

Answer 7

morphine

Question 8

example of antagonist:

Answer 8

pronethalol

Question 9

what is an enzyme inhibitor?

Answer 9

a molecule that binds to an enzymes active site and decreases its activity by blocking the reaction normally catalysed there

Question 10

what are the different types of interactions that occur between the active ingredients in medicine and the receptor sites?

Answer 10

*ionic interactions
*hydrogen bonds
*LDF’s

Question 11

what is the part of the drug which is involved in the drug action called?

Answer 11

pharmacaphore