Pharmacology

Question 1

What is a drug?

Answer 1

Chemical substance interacting with a specific target in a biological system to produce a physiologic effect
- where? —> specific target
- target? —> biological system
- response? —> physiological effect

Question 2

How does heroin work?

Answer 2

Specific target: Opioid receptors
Biological system: Peri-aqueductal grey region
Ventral tegmental area
Solitary nucleus
Physiological effect: Analgesia
Euphoria
Cough supression

Question 3

What are the 4 classes of drugs?

Answer 3

Target:
1. Receptors - eg. salbutamol
2. Enzymes - eg. atorvastatin
3. Transport proteins - eg. citalopram
4. Ion channels - eg. amlodipine

Question 4

What is drug selectivity?

Answer 4

Lock and key theory —> drugs only bind to targets with complementary shape

Question 5

How do drugs act on targets?

Answer 5

Enhance or prevent target activation

Question 6

What are side effects and why do they arise?

Answer 6

Effects secondary to those intended
- Negative health consequences —> adverse effects

1. Drug effects other targets (off-target)
2. Drug effects different target in same tissue
3. Dose

Question 7

What does drug safety depend on?

Answer 7

Difference between dose for desired effect and dose inducing side effects

Question 7

What is pamipexole and why does it have side effects?

Answer 7

Parkinson’s disease treatment drug (dopamine receptor antagonist —> activates)
1. Off-target effects: D1/D2-like receptors —> eyes,
blood vessels, heart, adrenals,
kidneys, gut
2. Target effects: mesocortical pathway (cortex)
nigrostriatal … (striatum)
mesolimbic … (nucleus accumbens)
tuberoinfundibular (pituitary)