Pharmacodynamics Flashcards
Pharmacodynamics
- Study of how a drug affects the body (Drug Action)
~ Physiological effect a drug has
Site of Action
- Molecular site where the drug has a significant chemical interaction, which causes a biological effect
~ Takes advantage of receptors
normally used for endogenous
chemicals - Site of Action
~ Surface of internal cell receptors
~ Internal cell enzymes
Receptor/Drug Interaction: Receptor
- Molecule within a cell, or on the cell
membrane - Relationship between the drug and
the receptor is similar to that of a lock
and key
~ Has to do with shape
> If receptors don’t fit with each
other, they don’t work - Each cell has receptors that are necessary to proper functioning of that specific cell
- Reaction to changes in chemical concentration
~ Increase or decrease the number of
receptors to adapt to the
environment
> Add more receptors when
chemical levels are low
> Decrease number of receptors
when chemical levels are high
~ Increase or decrease the sensitivity
of a receptor
> Increase sensitivity when
chemicals are low
> Decrease sensitivity when
chemical levels are high
Receptor/Drug Interaction: Effects of Binding
- The drug can directly cause changes
- The drugs can inhibit the binding of natural chemicals or another drug
Receptor/Drug Interaction: Affinity and Efficacy
- In order for a drug to trigger an effect it must have both affinity and efficacy for a receptor
- Affinity: chemical structure fits the receptor structure
- Efficacy: chemical causes a biological response when fit into the receptor
Drug Action Concepts: Additive Effect
Effect of taking two or more drugs is equal to the sum of the responses obtained when the drugs are taken individually
Drug Action Concepts: Synergistic Effect
Use of one drug enhances the effect of another
Drug Action Concepts: Antagonistic Effect
Use of is drug reduces the effect of another
Drug Action Concepts: Placebo Effect
Pt. anticipates a specific response and perceives that response despite taking a drug that has no therapeutic effect
Drug Action Concepts: Tolerance
- Diminished response to a drug as a result of continued use. Must take more of a drug to get the desired effects
~ Body produces more enzymes
responsible for metabolism
~ Cell reduces number of sensitivity of
receptors
Dose-Response Relationship
- As the amount of a drug is increased the effects increase since more receptor binding takes place
~ Drug/receptor interaction is by
chance so increasing the dose
increases the chance of interaction
~ When all receptors are occupied,
increasing dose has no effect
Dose-Response Relationship: Multiple Doses
- The levels of the drug increase and then level off when the amount of drug administered is equal to the amount of drug being eliminated
- Leveling off is known as steady state
Dose-Response Relationship: Maintenance Dose
Dose used to maintain steady state/therapeutic levels of a drug
Dose-Response Relationship: Loading Dose
- One or more doses that are higher than the maintenance dose
- Used to get to a therapeutic level quicker
Dosing Frequency Abbreviations
- q.d. - once a day
- quaque (each/every) die (day)
- q4h - every four hours
- qam - every morning
- qpm - every night
- b.i.d. - twice a day
- bis (twice) in die
- t.i.d. - three times a day
- ter (thrice) in die
- qi.d. - four times a day
- quater (four times) in die