Pharmacology

Question 1

What is pharmacodynamics?

Answer 1

The study of the effect of drugs on the function of living systems environment

Question 2

What is pharmacodynamics?

Answer 2

This is how the drugs effects the body

Question 3

What is pharmacokinetics?

Answer 3

This is the effect of the body on the drug, encompassing how it enters, moves through, is possibly altered and exits the body.

Question 4

What is a drug?

Answer 4

A drug is a chemical substance with a known structure which is administered to a living organism to produce a biological effect

Question 5

What is medicine?

Answer 5

This is a chemical preparation, which usually contains one or more drug, administered with the intention of producing a therapeutic effect

Question 6

What is a target?

Answer 6

A biological structure or molecule in the body that interacts with a drug to produce its therapeutic effect

Usually a protein

Question 7

How do targets impact specifity?

Answer 7

Drugs are designed to bind with a specific target

Classes of drugs to bind to similar targets

Question 8

What are the main types of targets?

Answer 8

Receptors
Enzymes
Ion channels
Transport molecules

Question 9

Explain receptors as a target

Answer 9

Receptors act as a biological switch for processes within the cell

Question 10

Explain enzymes as a target

Answer 10

Enzymes that exist within a metabolic pathway will have their functional activity altered by the drug

Question 11

What causes specifity?

Answer 11

The shape of the drug and the target at a molecular level are the same

Question 12

What happens when a specific drug binds to a specific target?

Answer 12

Binding will alter the overall shape of the target leading to a number of things:
- switch on or switch off enzymes
- switch on or off metabolic processes
- allow substances to pass through membrane

Question 13

What causes side effects?

Answer 13

No drug is absolutely specific

Actions of other targets will cause side effects

Question 14

Describe the The WHO analgesic ladder

Answer 14

Stage 1 - non-opioids
Stage 2 - weak - opioids
Stage 3 - Strong opioids

Question 15

Give an example of a non-opioids

Answer 15

Paracetamol
Ibuprofen (NSAIDS)
Aspirin

Question 16

Give an example of a weak opioids

Answer 16

Codeine

Question 17

Give an example of a Strong opioids

Answer 17

Morphine
Pethidine
Diamorphine
Methadone

Question 18

What do non-opioids work on?

Answer 18

The peripheral nervous system- on peripheral mechanisms that stimulate nociceptors causing pain.

Question 19

What do opioids work on?

Answer 19

Opioids act on the Central nervous system by inhibiting transmission of pain stimulus

Question 20

What does COX stand for?

Answer 20

Cyclo-oxygenase

Question 21

What is COX?

Answer 21

A family of enzymes responsible for the production of prostaglandins

Question 22

What are the three functions of prostaglandins?

Answer 22

Stimulate inflammatory response
Stimulate nociceptive nerve endings
Prostaglandins adjust and elevate body temperature control

Question 23

What part of the brain do prostaglandins act on?

Answer 23

The hypothalamus

Question 24

What is the acronym for how the drug interacts with the body in pharmacokinetics?

Answer 24

A - Absorption
D - Distribution
M - Metabolism
E - Excretion

Question 25

Explain absorption in pharmacokinetics

Answer 25

This means how the drug is absorbed from the site of administration

Question 26

Explain Distribution in pharmacokinetics

Answer 26

Drug is transported and distributed around the body through the bodies' natural transport systems, moving down concentration gradients and being transported locally into cells and tissues

Question 27

Explain Metabolism in pharmacokinetics

Answer 27

Drugs are subjected to enzymatic reactions of metabolic processes

Question 28

Explain Excretion in pharmacokinetics

Answer 28

How the drug exits the body, including the excretion of its metabolites

Question 29

What are the main routes of excretion?

Answer 29

Liver via the bile into the gut and the faecally Filtration by the kidneys into the urine Sweating

Question 30

What are the four ways a drug can move across cell membranes?

Answer 30

- Diffusion through the phospholipid bilayer - Diffusion through aqueous pores Via solute carriers or membrane transporters Pinocytosis

Question 31

what is pinocytosis?

Answer 31

This is the process by which invagination of a section of the cell membrane will encompass the drug in a smaller membrane bound vesicle, of which its contents is released into the cytoplasm

Question 32

What does OCT stand for and what is it?

Answer 32

Organic Cation Transporter - it is a solute carrier

Question 33

What does OAT stand for and what is it?

Answer 33

Organic Anion Tranporter - This is a solute carrier

Question 34

Why would solute carriers be used?

Answer 34

Polar drugs containing charged ions will be transported across the membrane in aqueous pores formed by glycoproteins of the cell membrane However, often drugs are too large and so will bind with solute carriers, having their shape altered and passively move across the cell membrane, being released into the cell.

Question 35

Describe the make up of the cell membrane

Answer 35

The cell membrane can be described as a phospholipid bilayer. Contain two rows of inverted phospholipids, with inward facing hydrophobic fatty acid tails and a hydrophilic head group.

Question 36

List all the routes of administration

Answer 36

Oral Rectal Epithelially Injections IV Inhalation Sublingual