Pharmacodynamics

Question 1

The study of what drugs do and how they do it.

Chemicals that produce effects by interacting with other chemicals.

Answer 1

Pharmacodynamics

Drugs

Question 2

The largest effect that a drug can produce.

The amount of drug we must give to elicit an effect.

Answer 2

Maximal efficacy

Potency

Question 3

Special chemicals in the body that most drugs interact with to produce effects.

Answer 3

Receptors

Question 4

What are examples of drug receptors?

Answer 4

Endogenous (hormones, neurotransmitters)
Enzymes
Ribosomes

Question 5

Normal points of control of physiological processes. Function is regulated by molecules supplied in the body.

Answer 5

Receptors

All that drugs can do at receptors is mimic or block the action of the body’s own regulatory molecules.

Question 6

What can’t drugs do?

Answer 6

Give cells new functions. Make the body do anything that it isn’t already capable of doing.

Question 7

A highly desirable characteristic of a drug. Made possible by the existence of many different types of receptors.

Answer 7

Selectivity, the drugs can interact with one receptor and not others. The more selective a drug is, the fewer side effects.

Question 8

The intensity of the response of a drug is proportional to the number of receptors occupied by that drug.

Answer 8

Simple Occupancy Theory

A maximal response will occur when all available receptors have been occupied.

Question 9

The strength of the attraction between a drug and its receptor.

Answer 9

Affinity

Drugs with high affinity are very potent.

Question 10

The ability of a drug to activate the receptor following binding.

Answer 10

Intrinsic activity.

Drugs with high intrinsic activity have high maximal efficacy and are able to cause intense response.

Question 11

What does modified occupant theory involve?

Answer 11

Affinity and intrinsic activity

Question 12

Drugs that mimic the body’s own regulatory molecules. Increase affinity and intrinsic activity.

Answer 12

Agonist

Question 13

Drugs that block the actions of endogenous regulators. High affinity and low intrinsic activity.

Answer 13

Antagonist

Gives no pharmacological responses.

Question 14

Mimics the actions of endogenous regulatory molecules, but they produce responses of intermediate intensity.

Answer 14

Partial agonist

Question 15

When two drugs interact, there are what three possible outcomes?

Answer 15

One drug may intensify the effects of the other.
One drug may reduce the effects of the other.
The combination may produce a new response not seen with either drug alone.

Question 16

Two drugs with similar actions working together.

Combined effect of drugs is higher than if given alone.

Answer 16

Additive effect

Synergistic effect

Question 17

What five effects can food have on drugs?

Answer 17

Drug absorption, drug metabolism, drug toxicity, drug action, drug timing

Question 18

One hour before to two hours after refers to what?

Answer 18

The drug not the food

Question 19

The risk for a serious drug interaction is…?

Answer 19

Directly proportionate to the number of drugs the patient is taking. Interactions are especially important for drugs with low therapeutic indices.

Question 20

How can one minimize drug-drug interactions?

Answer 20

Minimize the number of drugs a patient receives. Take a thorough drug history. Be aware of the possibility of illicit drug use. Adjust timing of administration to minimize interference with absorption. Monitor for early signs of toxicity. Be esp vigilant with drugs with low therapeutic indices.