Pharmacology Flashcards
What is pharmacology?
The study of the effects of chemical substances in the function of living systems
What is a drug in pharmacological terms?
A chemical that affects physiological function in a specific way
What are the four main types of drug targets?
- Enzymes
- Carriers
- Ion Channels
- Receptors
How do drugs act on enzymes?
- Inhibitors inhibit normal reactions
- False substrates create an abnormal metabolite
- Pro-drugs trigger the production of the active drug
How do drugs act on carriers?
Inhibitors block transport
How do drugs act on ion channels?
- Blockers block channels
- Modulators increase or decrease opening probability
How do drugs act on receptors?
- Agonists trigger response
- Antagonists block response or have no effect
What is meant by “specificity is reciprocal” in drug-target interactions?
Specific drugs bind to specific targets and specific targets will only recognise specific drugs
Why do drugs have side effects?
No drugs are 100% specific
What are the two stages of drug-receptor interactions?
- Binding
- Activation (tissue response)
What is the difference between agonists and antagonists in terms of drug-receptor interactions?
Agonists = binding + activation
Antagonists = binding only
What is affinity in drug-receptor interactions?
The ability of a drug to bind to a receptor
What is efficacy in drug-receptor interactions?
The ability of a drug to activate a receptor
How do agonists and antagonists differ in terms of affinity and efficacy?
Agonists = affinity + efficacy
Antagonists = affinity + little to no efficacy
What is a full agonist?
A drug that produces maximal tissue response
