Pharmacology Flashcards
Define pharmacodynamics
The biochemical, physiological and molecular effects of a drug on the body
= What the body does to the drug
Define pharmokinetics
The fate of a chemical substance administered to a living organism
= what the body does to the drug
Why is pharmacology important?
Knowledge to support safe, legal and efficient prescribing
4 pharmokinetic processes
- Absorption
- Distribution
- Metabolism
- Excretion
Which types of administration gives 100% dose?
IV
IA (intra-arterial)
4 mechanisms for drugs to permeate across cell membrane
Diffusion through pores or channels
Passive diffusion (lipid soluble)
Carrier protein mediated
Pinocytosis
3 factors affecting drug absorption
Drug structure
Ionised drugs give poor lipid solubility
Large or hydrophilic poorly absorbed
Medicine formulation
Coating or modified release slows rate
Oral drugs must cross many barriers
Weak acids or bases
Acids - best absorbed in stomach
Bases - best absorbed in intestine
What is first pass metabolism?
Metabolism of drugs preventing them from reaching the systemic circulation
2 sites of first pass metabolism
- Degradation of enzymes in the intestinal wall
- Absorption into hepatic portal vein and then metabolism via liver enzymes
Define bioavailability
Proportion of administered dose which reaches the systemic circulation
Does bioavailability rely on rate of absorption?
No!
Extent of absorption and first pass metabolism
Inhaled absorption pro and cons
Well perfumed, large SA and blood flow
Limited by risk of toxicity to alveoli so restricted to volatiles
Pros and cons of intramuscular absorption
Can make slow release drug by incorporating lipophilic
Increase in blood flow or water solubility removes drug quicker
4 factors affecting drug distribution
Size of the molecule
Lipid solubility
Protein binding
Volume of distribution
3 ways for drugs to reach CNS
High lipid solubility
Intrathecal administration
Inflammation causes leaky barrier
What is Vd?
Volume if distribution (higher if drugs are well distributed)
Why is caution required for drugs in elderly?
Leads to smaller Vd, higher plasma concentration and more likely to cross BBB
Should we dose smaller or larger in obese patients?
Smaller !
Drugs not distributed to fat so dose based on ideal body weight not actual
2 processes of drug elimination
Metabolism - modification of chemical structure for lipid soluble drugs
Excretion - of unchanged drug
How does sepsis affect pharmokinetics
Leaky blood vessels increases distribution and greater penetration of BBB
How does liver impairment affect pharmokinetics
Hypoalbuminaemia leads to more drug crossing BBB
2 phases of drug metabolism
Phase 1 - oxidation/reduction/hydrolysis by CP450 adds reactive group to make drug polar
Phase 2 - conjugation of functional group to produce hydrophilic inert molecule for excretion
4 types of metabolisers
Poor - minimal therapeutic effect
Intermediate - reduced effect
Extensive- converted to morphine
Ultra-rapid - risk of toxicity
Excretion types
Liquids - urine, bile, sweat
Solids - faeces
Gases - expired air
3 processes accounting for renal excretion of drugs
- Glomerular filtration
- Active Tubular secretion
- Passive reabsorption
What happens in reduced kidney function?
Accumulation and toxicity of renally cleared drugs e.g. gentamicin
Define first order kinetics
Rate of elimination is proportional to the plasma drug concentration
(Constant % is eliminated)
Define zero order kinetics
Rate of elimination is NOT proportional to the plasma drug concentration
(Constant and unaffected by conc so caution when adjusting doses)
Differences between first and zero order kinetics
First - process do not become saturated
Zero - processes become saturated
What is clearance?
CL = removal of drug by all eliminating organs per unit time
Cmax vs Tmax
C - maximum plasma concentration
T - time taken to reach Cmax
How does a prolonged release oral does affect Tmax?
Slower absorption so increases Tmax and reduces Cmax
Define half life
t 1/2 - time taken for plasma drug concentration to fall 50%
Half life equation
T 1/2 = 0.693k = ln2
Half life depends on
Clearance
Volume of distribution - large Vd cleared more slowly
What needs to be taken into account with a short half life?
Frequent dosing
Increases risk of withdrawal symptoms
After how many half lives is a drug considered cleared?
5
What happens to half life in organ dysfunction
Is increased
= dose reduction required
Define steady state
When rate of drug input is equal to rate of drug elimination
What is Css?
Drug plasma concentration at steady state
Time to Css = 5 x t 1/2
Why is steady state important?
Repeated dosing causes peaks and troughs around mean plasma concentr
When is a loading dose required?
When urgently need to reach steady state e.g. antibiiotics
Water soluble vs lipid soluble drugs rate of distribution depends on…
Water - rate of passage across membranes
Lipid - blood flow to tissues
Rate of elimination is inversely proportional to..
Vd
Define pharmacogenetics
The use of genetic and genomic information to tailor pharmaceutical treatment to an individual
How can genomics affect pharmacodynamics
Variations in drug receptor varies efficacy and increased incidence of adverse drug reactions
How can genomics affect pharmokinetics
Variations in drug metabolism
4 drug targets
Receptors
Enzymes
Transporters
Ion Charles
Define enzyme inhibitor
A molecule that binds to an enzyme and decreases its activity
2 types of enzyme inhibitors
Irreversible- changes enzyme chemically
Reversible - binds non-covalently
Describe how statins work
Blocking the rate limiting step HMG-CoA reductase in the cholesterol pathway
= reduces cholesterol and Cardiovascular diseases
What happens when ACE is inhibited?
Reduction of Angiotensin 2 production reduced blood pressure
3 types of protein ports (active transport)
Uniporter - Uses energy from ATP
Symporter - Use movement of one molecule to pull in another
Antiporter - once substance moves against its gradient using energy from another moving gown the gradient
Example of a symporter
Na-K-Cl Co transporter (NKCC) all in the same direction
= Furosemide in oedema inhibits so allows for Na, K, Cl loss in urine
Types of ion channels and examples
Metabolic (K) - diabetes
Receptor activated (Cl) - epilepsy
Epithelial (Na) - heart failure
Voltage gated (Ca, Na) - nerve, arrhythmia
Active ion transporter (3Na, 2K)
Example of irreversible enzyme inhibitor
Organophosphate inhibit cholisterase
E.g. insecticides, nerve gases
Muscarinic, Nicotinic and CNS symptoms