Pharmacology Flashcards
What is clinical pharmacokinetics (PK) concerned with?
Clinical pharmacokinetics (PK) is concerned with studying how the body affects a drug, particularly in terms of absorption and distribution.
What is generally measured as a representation of drug concentrations in target tissues during clinical PK?
Plasma concentrations are generally measured as a representation of drug concentrations in target tissues during clinical PK.
What are the factors that contribute to the variability in drug doses for therapeutic effect between individuals?
Variability in drug doses for therapeutic effect between individuals can be attributed to bioavailability, an animal’s body size and fluid composition, variability in drug distribution, and variability in metabolism and excretion.
How is bioavailability related to drug absorption and distribution?
Bioavailability is related to drug absorption and distribution, and it is determined by comparing the AUC of concentration vs time for the extravascular formulation of a drug to that of the IV formulation.
What are 2 types of compartment models in PK?
open and closed models.
Describe the central compartment and its significance in drug elimination.
The central compartment is the vascular space highly perfused tissues that equilibrate quickly with the drug. Elimination occurs mainly from the central compartment, which contains the liver and kidneys.
Explain the concept of open and closed models in pharmacokinetics.
Open models describe drugs that are eliminated from the body, while closed models describe drugs that are recirculated within the body (e.g., drugs that undergo enterohepatic circulation).
What is the central compartment mainly composed of, and from where does elimination occur?
The central compartment is mainly composed of highly perfused tissues, and elimination occurs mainly from this compartment.
How is a peripheral compartment different from a central compartment?
A peripheral compartment is less perfused tissues (e.g., skeletal muscle and connective tissues), and drugs in clinical use are usually described by a one or two-compartment model.
Provide examples of drugs that undergo zero order elimination.
PBZ
What is a first-order reaction, and why are most drugs absorbed and eliminated by first-order processes?
A first-order reaction is where the amount of drug changes at a rate proportional to the amount of drug remaining. Most drugs are absorbed and eliminated by first-order processes. Glomerular filtration is a first-order process.
Describe the clinical applications of a one-compartment open model with IV injection.
A one-compartment open model with IV injection describes the movement of a drug into and out of the central compartment using rate constants K0 and K10.
What are the characteristics of a two-compartment open model with IV injection?
A two-compartment open model with IV injection has two compartments: central (blood/highly vascularized) and peripheral (less vascularized), with elimination considered to only occur from the central compartment.
What is the volume of distribution (Vd), and how does it relate to drug distribution in the body?
The volume of distribution (Vd) describes the apparent volume of the body in which the drug is dissolved, indicating drug distribution.
What factors affect the volume of distribution (Vd) of a drug?
Factors affecting the volume of distribution (Vd) include ionization, lipid solubility, molecular size, and degree of protein binding.
Define bioavailability and its significance in pharmacokinetics.
Bioavailability (F) is a measure of the systemic availability of a drug administered by any route other than IV.
How is bioavailability measured in clinical settings?
Bioavailability is measured by comparing the AUC of concentration vs time for the extravascular formulation of a drug to that of the IV formulation.
Why is the variation in bioavailability within a population more clinically significant than the mean?
The variation in bioavailability within a population is more clinically significant than the mean, and drugs should be dosed according to the lowest F, not the mean.
What does lipid solubility determine in the context of drug pharmacokinetics?
Lipid solubility determines how readily a drug crosses biologic membranes in drug pharmacokinetics.
How does the ionization of drugs influence their lipophilicity?
unionised drugs only cross biologic membranes. Strongly ionised cannot
In which pHs are weak acids and weak bases ionised?
Weak acids are non-ionized in acidic environments, and weak bases are non-ionized in basic environments.
What is the significance of pKa and pH in drug ionization?
pKa and pH play a crucial role in drug ionization. When pH equals pKa, 50% of the drug is ionized (log1=0).
Describe the pH-partition hypothesis in drug pharmacokinetics.
The pH-partition hypothesis states that drugs tend to be non-ionized in environments where they are non-ionized in body fluids.
How do weak bases behave in acidic environments according to the pH-partition hypothesis?
Weak bases are ionised in acidic environments. They are highly non-ionized in plasma and readily cross lipid membranes, becoming ionized and ‘ion trapped’ in tissues.
What is the effect of weak acids on tissue penetration based on the pH-partition hypothesis?
Weak acids are ionised in plasma and have poor penetration into tissues.
What are amphoteric drugs, and how do they differ from weak acids and weak bases?
Amphoteric drugs, such as fluoroquinolones and tetracyclines, have both acidic and basic groups and a pH range where they are maximally non-ionized.
Why do aminoglycosides, despite being weak bases, have poor penetration into certain tissues?
Despite being weak bases, aminoglycosides have poor penetration into certain tissues due to their large size and high pKa values.
In drug protein binding, what happens to drugs bound to plasma proteins?
In drug protein binding, drugs bound to plasma proteins become too large to pass through membranes, and only free drug is available for tissues.
Which plasma protein do acidic drugs primarily bind to?
Acidic drugs primarily bind to albumin in drug protein binding.
What is the role of α-1 acid glycoprotein in binding basic drugs?
Basic drugs primarily bind to α-1 acid glycoprotein (APP) in drug protein binding.
Describe the equilibrium between free and bound drug in drug protein binding.
There is an equilibrium between free and bound drug in drug protein binding.
How does drug protein binding affect duration of action?
Highly bound drugs act as drug depots, allowing for increased duration of action.
What happens when drug interactions alter protein binding?
Changes in protein binding caused by drug interactions are assumed to instantaneously change free drug concentrations, affecting drug distribution and elimination.
Explain the concept of adjustments in dosing regimes due to hypoproteinaemia or concurrent administration of highly bound drugs.
Adjustments in dosing regimes due to changes in protein binding are generally unnecessary, except in the rare case of a drug with a high hepatic extraction ratio and narrow therapeutic index given parenterally.
Provide an example of a drug interaction related to protein binding and its correction.
An example of a drug interaction related to protein binding is the concurrent administration of phenylbutazone and warfarin. However, the increase in free drug is transient.
Why is it generally unnecessary to adjust dosing regimes due to changes in protein binding?
Adjustments in dosing regimes due to hypoproteinaemia or concurrent administration of highly bound drugs are generally transient and not necessary.
What is the role of albumin in drug protein binding?
Albumin is a key plasma protein in drug protein binding.
How can hepatic disease, PLN, and PLE affect drug protein binding?
Hepatic disease, PLN, and PLE can affect drug protein binding by decreasing albumin levels.
What are the key factors affecting drug bioavailability?
Factors affecting drug bioavailability include volume contraction conditions, dehydration, changes in acid-base balance, and neonates.
How is the volume of distribution (Vd) calculated by the area method in clinical applications?
The volume of distribution (Vd) calculated by the area method is used to predict the amount of drug remaining in the body.
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