Pharmacology 2 Flashcards
What is Pharmacodynamics?
How the drug affects the body
What is pharmacokinetics?
How body affects the drug
ADME Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion
Drug Receptor types
Ligand-gated ion channels - nicotinic ACh receptors
G Protein Coupled receptors (GPCR’s) - beta-adrenoceptors
Kinase-linked receptors - for growth factors
Cytosolic/nuclear receptors - steroid
What questions should you ask when prescribing a drug, with pharmacokinetics in mind?
How quickly will drug reach its site of action? How quickly will I see a response?
Drug interactions likely?
Is a dose adjustment needed in certain disease states?
What monitoring is required?
What mechanisms do drugs use to permeate membranes?
- Passive diffusion through hydrophobic membranes - lipid soluble molecules
- Passive diffusion through aqueous pores - only v small soluble drugs, e.g. lithium
- Carrier mediated drugs - quite unusual, basically when proteins that usually transport sugars, amino acids etc transport drugs
How does drug ionisation affect drug absorption?
Ionised drugs have poor lipid solubility
∴ only unionised drugs can pass
Why are the majority of medications PO?
Convenient
Cost-effective
Where are medications that are weak bases best absorbed? Why?
In the small intestine
bc small intestine has a pH of ~ 6.5 ∴ more likely to be similar pH to pKa of medication (the pH at which ionised & unionised drug is 50/50)
Where are medications that are weak acids best absorbed? Why?
In stomach
bc stomach has a pH of ~ 3 ∴ more likely to be similar pH to pKa of medication (the pH at which ionised & unionised drug is 50/50)
What factors affect the oral drug absorption in the stomach?
Gastric enzymes - digest the drug, esp large protein drugs e.g. insulin (∴ never given orally)
Low pH - can degrade
Full stomach = slower absorption
Gastric motility - can be altered by drugs/disease
Prev. surgery
What factors affect the oral drug absorption in the small intestine?
Drug structure - large/hydrophillic molecules are poorly absorbed
Medicine formulation - i.e. capsule has a coating to control release
Modified release slows rate of absorption (bc less freq dosing)
P-glycoprotein - will remove substrates from endothelial cells back into lumen lol
What is first pass metabolism?
Metabolism of drugs which prevents them from reaching systemic circulation
(The fraction of drug lost at absorption)
How does first pass metabolism occur?
Degradation by enzymes in intestinal wall
&
Absorption from intestine into hepatic portal vein and metabolism via liver enzymes
What is bioavailability?
Proportion of administered dose which reaches the systemic circulation
What is bioavailability (F) dependent on?
Dependent on extent of drug absorption and extent of first pass metabolism
NOT dependent on rate of absorption
Varies w/ route of administration and between individuals
e.g. tablet has lower bioavailability (F) than IV
What is bioavailability expressed as?
% or fraction
Pros of PR route
Local administration
Avoids first pass metabolism
Helps if patients has severe N/V ∴ can’t take meds orally
Cons of PR route
Absorption is variable
Patient preference
Example of PR medication
Diazepam suppositories for epileptic seizures
Pros of INH route
Well perfused large SA
Local administration
Cons of INH route
Inhaler technique might be ineffective
Example of INH route meds
Gaseous anaesthetic
Salbutamol inhaler
Pros of SC route
Faster onset than PO
Formulation can be changed to control absorption rate
Cons of SC route
Not as rapid as IV
Examples of SC route meds
Long acting insulin for T1DM and T2DM
Pros of TD route
Provides continuous drug release
Avoids first pass metabolism
Cons of TD route
Only suitable for lipid soluble drugs
Slow onset of action
Examples of TD route medication
Fentanyl patches for severe chronic pain
What factors influence distribution?
- Molecule size (small, ↑ distribution)
- Lipid solubility (if lipophillic, ↑ distribution)
- Protein binding (if NOT protein bound, ↑ distribution)
What is the volume of distribution (Vd)?
Also sometimes known as apparent volume of distribution
Theoretical vol a drug will be distributed in the body
Vol of plasma required to contain the total administered dose
If well distributed, high Vd
If poorly distributed, low Vd
What is the blood brain barrier?
Membrane that separates foreign substances in blood from CNS
Describe the physical aspect of the BBB
Continuous layer of endothelial cells with tight junctions
Has high number of efflux pumps that remove water soluble molecules