Pharmacology Flashcards
Phases of human drug clinical testing
Phase 1 - normal volunteers
Phase 2 - target population compared with control drug
Phase 3 - similar to phase 2 but larger groups
Phase 4 - post-marketing surveillance
Subdivisions of pharmacology
PHARMACOKINETICS
- absorption
- distribution - depends on capillary permeability, drug solubility (lipophilic drugs easier), binding to plasma proteins
- metabolism
- excretion
PHARMACODYNAMICS
PHARMACOTHERAPEUTICS
TOXICOLOGY
Biotransformation
Makes drugs more polar - as lipophilic properties hinder elimination
2 phases:
Metabolism - oxidation, reduction, hydrolysis
- via cytochrome p450
Conjugation with - glucuronate (paracetamol/morphine), glutathione, sulfate (COCP), acetic acid (hydralazine and isoniazid)
- in liver cytosol
Volume of distribution
Ratio of amount of drug in the body to its plasma concentration
Large Vd in lipophilic drugs, indicating that most of the drug is being sequestered in some tissue
Drug interactions
Enzyme inductors - increase cytochrome p450
- SCRAP GP
Sulfonylureas, Smoking
Carbamazepine, Corticosteroids
Rifamycins (Rifampicin, Rifabutin)
Alcohol (Chronic)
Phenytoin
Griseofulvin
Phenobarbital
Enzyme inhibitors - inhibit CYP450
- VIDEOCASE
Valproate
Isoniazid
Disulfiram
Erythromycin, Clarithro (not Azithro)
Omeprazole
Cimetidine
Allopurinol
Sulfonamides
Ethanol (Acute)
Enterohepatic circulation - reduced by ampicillin
GIT flora - reduced by ampicillin
Drug bioavailability influenced in pregnancy
↑ circulating volume
↑renal blood flow so ↑ renal clearance
↑ 3rd space
↑ fat content
↓ albumin and binding proteins
↑ gastric emptying time
↑ liver metabolism (but no change to liver blood flow)
Teratogens
A drugs - Anticonvulsants, Antibiotics, Anticoagulants, Antimetabolites, Androgens, Alcohol, Antipsychotics
< Day 20 - limb defects
Day 20 - anencephaly
Day 34 - transposition of great vessles
Day 36 - cleft lip
Day 42 - VSD, syndactyly
Day 84 - hypospadias
Most drugs cross the placenta, except…
HIT
Heparin
Insulin
Tubocurarine
Drugs that cause abortion
MET
Misoprostol
Ergotamine
Thrombolytics
FDA risk of substance to fetus
A - no fetal risk - proven by LOTS of data
B - animal studies failed to demonstrate risk, no adequate studies in women
C - animal studies show adverse effect, no adequate studies in women, benefit of drug outweighs potential risk
D - evidence of risk of human teratogenicity, potential benefits outweigh potential risk
X - evidence of risk of human teratogenicity, potential risk outweighs benefits of drug
Drugs and breastfeeding
Most drugs enter breast
Drugs not excreted in breast milk - warfarin, aminoglycosides (eg gentamicin)
Dopamine agonists
FDA category B
Prolactin antagonist - ↑dopamine ↓prolactin
↓milk production
For pituitary tumours, parkinsons disease, inhibition of lactation, hyperprolactinaemia
eg bromocriptine, cabergoline
Domperidone
Dopamine antagonist
To stimulate lactation (↑prolactin secretion), ↑gastric motility
Also used for anti-emesis, parkinsons disease
Does NOT cross blood brain barrier
Morphine
FDA category C
Acts on μ-opioid receptors in brain, substantia gelatinosa of spinal cord, GIT
Gives - analgesia, sedation, euphoria, dependence, resp depression, pinpoint pupils, constipation, sphincter of Oddi spasm
Antidote is naloxone or NMDA antagonists (ketamine)
Metabolized in liver, kidney, brain
Heroin
FDA category X
= diacetylmorphine, diamorphine
Prodrug of morphine, more potent
More lipophilic, so crosses BBB more easily
Binds to μ-opioid receptors
Effects - euphoria, drowsiness, CNS depression
Fetal effects are non-teratogenic, but include placental infection, FGR, preterm birth, fetal death
Neonatal narcotics syndrome - usually 48hr- up to 4weeks of birth, see CNS hyperirritability, high-pitched crying, resp distress, poor feeding, seizures
Fentanyl
FDA category C
μ-opioid agonist
Short acting
100x more potent than morphine
Can cross placenta
Lidocaine
FDA category B
Blocks fast voltage-gated sodium channels to prevent neurone depolarisation
Antiarrhythmic
2hr half-life
Metabolized by liver
Toxicity - circumoral (oral) paraesthesia, tinnitus, blurred vision, seizures, loss of consciousness, cardiorespiratory compromise, ECG changes
Risk of cardiotoxicity highest if underlying conduction issue eg WPW
Maximum dose
- without adrenaline 3mg/kg
- with adrenaline 7mg/kg
Cocaine
= benzoylmethylecgonine
From leaves of coca plant
CNS stimulant, appetite suppressant, topical anaesthetic, SSRI, potent vasoconstrictor
Metabolized most in liver, can detect metabolite in urine within 4hr intake up to 8days post
Side effects - tachycardia, hallucinations, bronchospasm, crack lung syndrome, MI, tooth decay, bruxism
Fetal effects - vasoconstriction of uterine/placental/umbilical artery -> FGR, fetal death, abruption, Prune-belly syndrome, hydronephrosis, reduced HC, gastroschisis
Tramadol
FDA category C
Centrally acting analgesic
Weak μ-opioid agonist, serotonin releasing agent, noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor, nicotinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist, M1 and M3 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist
Maximum dose 400mg/day
Ethanol
FDA category X
Organic compound where hydroxyl functional group is bound to carbon atom, product of glucose fermentation
C2H5OH
CNS depressant, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor agonist
Metabolized in liver by alcohol dehydrogenase to acetaldehyde
0.05% blood alcohol -> euphoria
0.08% -> upper legal driving limit
0.1% -> CNS depression
0.4% -> death
Ethanol abuse
Maximum for males 140-210g/week
For females 84-140g/week
(14 units average)
Blood - anaemia, thrombocytopenia, ↑triglycerides
Cardiac - cardiomyopathy, stroke, HTN
GIT - chronic gastritis, pancreatitis, liver cirrhosis and hepatitis, fatty liver, oropharyngeal cancer
Pregnancy - miscarriage, aneuploidy, structural congenital abnormalities
+ Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, polyneuropathy, delirium tremens
Fetal alcohol syndrome
Permanent birth defect
Growth - low birth weight, short stature
Craniofacial - smooth philtrum (upper lip indentation), thin upper lip, small palpebral fissures
CNS structural - microcephaly, agenesis of corpus collosum, cerebellar hypoplasia
Neurodevelopmental abnormalities - epilepsy, impaired fine motor skills, neurosensory hearing loss, LDs, cognitive defects
Types of antibiotics
Bactericidal
- interrupt cell wall / membrane / enzymes
- kill bacteria, or in low doses act as bacteriostatic
Bacteriostatic
- inhibit cell growth and reproduction by inhibiting protein production, DNA synthesis, cellular metabolism
- high doses become bactericidal
Interfere with folate metabolism
- sulfonamides inhibits conversion of benzoic acid to folate
- dihydrofolate reductase inhibitors eg trimethoprim, methotrexate, pyrimethamine
Penicillin
Derived from penicillium fungi
5 groups
- β-lactams
- β-lactamase resistant
- broad-spectrum penicillins eg amox, ampicillin, co-amox
- antipseudomonal penicillins eg ticarcillin, piperacillin
- mecillinams
Sulfonamides
2 groups - sulfonylureas (eg gliclazide) and thiazide diuretics
Competitive inhibitor of dihydropteorate synthetase (enzyme in folate synthesis)
Side effects - porphyria, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epiderminal necrolysis, blood - agranulocytosis, haem anaemia, thrombocytopenia
Nitrofurantoin
FDA category B
Bactericidal
Excreted by kidneys
Poor tissue penetration so not for treating pyelo or renal abscess
SEs of pulmonary fibrosis, neonatal haemolysis if antenatal
Bacteriostatic
Clindamycin - binds to 50s ribosome, anaerobe cover, SE of pseudomembranous colitis, excreted in breast milk, catB
Chloramphenicol - binds to 50s ribosome, broad spectrum, SE aplastic anaemia, excreted in breast milk, catC
Macrolides eg azithro/clarithro/erythro - binds to 50s ribosome and accumulate within leukocyte, SE colitis, excreted in breast milk, catB
Tacrolimus - SEs cardiac/hepato/nephro toxicity, breast feeding should be avoided, catC
Tetracycline eg doxy - binds to 30s ribosome, broad spectrum, breastfeeding ok, catD
Trimethoprim (sulfonamides) - inhibits folate, compatible with breastfeeding, catD
Bactericidal antibiotics
Rifampicin - inhibits DNA dependent RNA polymerase, gram +ve cover, heptatotoxic, compatible breastfeeding, catC
Vancomycin/teicoplanin - inhibits cell wall synthesis, gram +ve cover, nephro/ototoxic, poor gut absorption, catB
B-lactam penicillin - gram +ve cover, neurotoxicity, compatible with breastfeeding, catB
Metronidazole - inhibits nucleic acid synthesis, covers anaerobes, catB
Quinolone (cipro, levofloxacin) - inhibits bacterial DNA gyrase, broad spectrum, breastfeeding avoided, catC
Aminoglycerides eg gentamicin - gram -ve cover, nephro/ototoxic, compatible with breastfeeding, catC
UTI treatment in pregnancy
If <35/40
- pivmecillinam 400mg stat then 200mg TDS for 5-7 days
- or if pen allergic, nitro 100mg BD 7 days
If near term >35/40
- cefalexin 500mg TDS 7 days
(if severe pen all then discuss)
Never trimethoprim in 1st T (teratogenic)
Antifungals
Fungal cell wall is made of ergosterol
But human cell wall made of cholesterol
So antifungals work on ergosterol
SEs - nephrotoxicty, hepatitis, anaphylaxis
Aciclovir
Antiviral drugs do not destroy target pathogens but inhibit pathogen development
Guanine analogue
Prodrug - converted into active form in viral cell by thymidine kinase
Inhibits viral DNA polymerase
Primarily for herpes infections
Poor water solubility, poor oral bioavailability
Elimination half life 3hrs
Renally excreted
Antifungals
Polyene group - eg nystatin
- inhibits synthesis of ergosterol
- catB
Imidazole group - eg ketoconazole, clotrimazole, fluconazole
- inhibits synthesis of ergosterol
- catC
Allylamines - eg terbinafine
- inhibits enzyme required for ergosterol synthesis
- catB
Caspofungin - inhibits cell wall glucan synthesis
Neuraminidase inhibitors
For treatment and prophylaxis of influenza virus A and B
Both FDA catC
Zanamivir (relenza)
- inhaled, with minimal oral bioavailability, can cause bronchospasm in asthma
Oseltamivir (tamiflu)
- prodrug, 75% oral bioavailability, metabolized in liver then renally excreted
- SEs Stevens-Johnson syndrome, neuropsychiatric disorders
Ribavirin
FDA cat X
For treatment of respiratory syncytial virus infection, hep C
Prodrug, 45% oral bioavailability, long half life as RBCs concentrate drug and can’t excrete it
Purine analogue
SEs - haem anaemia, teratogenic
Antiretrovirals
For treatment of retroviral infections eg HIV
Aims to achieve viral load <50 RNA copies/ml plasma
Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor
- so prevents synthesis of double-stranded viral DNA
- tenofovir - catB
- zidovudine, lamivudine - catC
Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor
- nevirapine, etravirine - catB
- efavirenz - catD
Protease inhibitor
- inhibits protease activity
- saquinavir, ritonavir - cat B
Integrase inhbitors - realtegravir - catC
Entry inhibitors - maraviroc - catB
HAART
HAART (highly active antiretroviral therapy) includes combination of at least 3 drugs belonging to at least 2 classes of antiretrovirals
SEs - lactic acidosis, hyperglycaemia, hepatitis, pancreatitis, peripheral neuropathy
Used in tx for HIV when:
- CD4 T-lymphocyte count is 200-350cells/mm3 in asymptomatic patients
- viral load > 10,000 HIV RNA copies/ml plasma
- severely symptomatic
Drugs to prevent HIV transmission from mother to fetus
HAART if not on antiretroviral therapy prior to pregnancy
- commence 20-28weeks, then discontinue after delivery
- zidovudine PO to neonate up to 6w of life, START (short term)
Alternatively, zidovudine monotherapy
- only antiretroviral drug specifically for use in pregnancy but NOT in 1stT
Women who conceive on HAART should continue through pregnancy
Antimalarial drugs
Chemo-prophylaxis
- not 100% effective
- causal or suppressive
- mefloquine or malarone safe in pregnancy
- doxycycline (teeth discolouration and bone growth disruption) and primaquine (fetal haemolysis) contraindicated
Mefloquine
FDA catC antimalarial, = Lariam
Recommended chemo-prophylaxis in pregnant women, can be used in 1stT
Also drug of choice in chloroquine-resistant falciparum malaria
Works to suppress RBC stage of malarial parasite
Metabolized in liver
Half life 2-4 weeks
Excreted by bile and faeces
Side effects - depression, insomnia, hallucinations, seizures
Oxytocin
FDA catA
Nanopeptide of 9 amino acids
Synthesized in supraoptic and paraventricular nucleus
Stored and released by the posterior pituitary gland
Non-neuronal sources of oxytocin - retina, thymus, adrenal medulla, pancreas, Leydig cells, corpus luteum, placenta
6 min half life
Excreted in bile and urine
Acts on G-protein receptors which require magnesium and cholesetrol
Destroyed in GI tract
Regulates circadian rhythm, uterine contraction, letdown reflex
Maternal oxytocin triggers transient inhibitory switch in GABA signalling from excitatory to inhibitory in fetal brain during delivery
Can give - intranasal, IM or IV
Side effects of oxytocin
CNS - SAH, seizures
CVS - tachycardia, HTN, increased CO, arrhythmia
GU - pelvic haematoma, uterine rupture
Biochemical - oliguria, natriuresis, hyponatraemia, water intoxication
Prostaglandins
20carbon lipid molecules (with 5 carbon ring) derived from fatty acids
Produced by all nucleated cells except lymphocytes
Act as local messengers, = paracrine hormones
Functions - many, including contraction and relaxation of smooth muscle
Obstetric - IOL, TOP, management of PPH
Prostaglandin E1 - eg misoprostol - for PPH and TOP
Prostaglandin E2 - eg dinoprostone - for IOL by ripening the cervix
Prostaglandin F2α - eg carboprost synthetic or dinoprost natural - for IOL, TOP, treatment of PPH