Pharmacology Flashcards
Pharmacology def
A chemical substance that interacts with a specific target within a biological system to produce a physiologic effect
What are the 3 determinants of a drugs’ effects?
1)Where is the effect produced
2)What is the target of the drug
3)What is the response produced after interaction with this target?
What effects does heroin produce and on what regions are these effects produced from?
Peri-aqueductal
grey region:
Analgesia
Ventral tegmental area:
Euphoria
Solitary nucleus:
Cough suppression
What are the 4 main drug targets and what 2 types of effect can drugs have on them?
Receptors
Enzymes
Transport proteins
Ion channels
Drugs can act on targets to –
Enhance activation (stimulate an effect)
Or
Prevent activation (block an effect from
being produced)
What type of target does citalopram hit?
Transport protein
What type of target does atorvastatin hit?
Enzyme
What type of target does salbutamol hit?
Receptor
What type of target does amlopidine hit?
Ion channel
Why is drug selectivity important and what does the lock and key hypothesis outline?
To be an effective therapeutic agent, a drug must show a high degree of selectivity for a particular drug target
L+K hypo:
The drug must have a well-fitting structure to bind to the chosen target, otherwise an unwanted effect may be produced
What is a side and adverse effect?
An effect produced by the drug that is secondary to the intended effect
If that side effect has negative health consequences, then it is also termed an adverse effect
In what 3 ways can side effects be produced?
On other targets in the same tissue or other tissues
On the same target in other tissues
Dependent on the dose of drug administered
What is classed as the safest drug in terms of dose?
The ‘safest’ drugs are those where there is a large difference between the dose required to induce the desired effect and the dose required to induce side effects/adverse effects
