Pharmacology

Question 1

Pharmacokinetics

Answer 1

• the way drugs move through the body; how drugs are handled in the body
• Absorption, distribution, metabolism, elimination of drugs

Question 2

Absorption

Answer 2

Manner by which drug molecules travel from site of administration, across cell membranes and into the circulatory system. This is affected by pH, blood flow, body surface area, contact time at the absorption surface and tissue thickness.

Question 3

Distribution

Answer 3

Means by which the drug travels from circulatory system across barrier membranes to the site of action. Affected by drug’s properties, protein binding, and anatomical barriers.

Question 4

Metabolism

Answer 4

Process involving the conversion of active drugs to a compound that can be easily removed or the conversion of prodrugs to active drugs.

Question 5

Elimination

Answer 5

Process by which a drug is removed from the body. Drugs are eliminated by the kidney, lung and bowel. Effecting drugs elimination include disease states, a drugs ionization, drug interactions and drugs half life.

Question 6

Bioavailability

Answer 6

Rate and extent to which active ingredients or active entity is absorbed from a drug product and becomes available at the site of action.

Question 7

Bioequivalence

Answer 7

Rate and extent of absorption of an active ingredient from a drug product so that it becomes available at its site of action

Question 8

NTI: Narrow Therapeutic Index

Answer 8

Drugs for which small differences in dose or blood concentration may lead to dose and blood concentration dependent, serious therapeutic failures or adverse reactions.

Question 9

Characteristics of NTIs

Answer 9

• steep drug dose-response relationship within the usual dose range or narrow span between effective drug concentrations and those associated with toxicity
• subject to therapeutic monitoring to ensure safe/effective use

Question 10

Example of NTI drugs

Answer 10

• warfarin
• levothyroxine
• carbmazepine
• lithium carbonate
• digoxin
• phenytoin
• theophylline

Question 11

Biosimilars

Answer 11

Biological products that are “interchangeable”; classified as not similar, similar, highly similar, and highly similar with finger-print like similarity. PURPLE BOOK lists products

Question 12

Pharmacodynamics

Answer 12

The effect drugs have on the body; drug’s effects on the body

Question 13

What drug classification is indicated in the treatment of asthma?

Answer 13

B2 agonists