Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

Phase 2A: ICS > Pharmacology > Flashcards

Pharmacology Flashcards

1
Q

Define pharmacology

A

The study of the effects of the drug

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Define pharmokinetics (PK)

A

How the body affects the drug: Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism and Excretion (ADME)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Define pharmacodynamics (PD)

A

How the drug affects the body

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What are the 4 main actions of pharmacokinetics

A
  1. ) Absorption
  2. ) Distribution
  3. ) Metabolism
  4. ) Excretion
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Describe the process of absorption in pharmacokinetics

A
  • Absorption = the process of transfer from site of administration into the systemic circulation
  • Routes of transmission: oral/intramuscular/topical/inhalational/intravenous/sublingual/intra arterial
  • To be absorbed the drug needs to pass through one membrane minimum
  • They do this via:
  • passive diffusion through the lipid layer
  • diffusion through pores or ion channels
  • pinocytosis
  • carrier mediated process (e.g. ATP-binding cassette)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Give an example of absorption within pharmacokinetics

A
  • E.g oral absorption
  • Advantages: good due to large SA and high blood flow in the small intestines
  • Disadvantages: drugs can be metabolised, so less efficient
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What are the main factors that affect the speed of oral absorption?

A
  1. ) First pass metabolism: drugs need to get through the intestinal lumen, intestinal wall, liver and lungs
  2. ) Drug structure and formulation
  3. ) Gastric emptying
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Describe the process of distribution in pharmacokinetics

A

Distribution = the process by which the drug is transferred from general circulation to tissues, occurring via passive diffusion across cell membranes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Give an example of distribution in pharmacokinetics

A

IV drugs: initially you have a high plasma concentration. Drugs will quickly enter well perfused tissue and then the drug will enter the less well perfused tissues and lower the plasma concentration

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What are some important points on distribution in pharmacokinetics?

A
  • Remember most drugs bind to plasma/tissue proteins. Thus, by binding you will lower the ‘free’ concentration of the drug
  • Distribution is important as it determines the total amount of drug that has to be administered to produce a particular plasma concentration
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

How do you measure distribution of a drug?

A

Vd: the total amount of drug in body/plasma concentration

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What does the rate of distribution for water soluble drugs depend on?

A

The rate of passage across membranes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What does the rate of distribution for lipid soluble drugs depend on?

A

The blood flow to tissues that accumulate the drug

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Define clearance

A

The volume of blood or plasma cleared of the drug per unit time

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Define metabolism in pharmacokinetics

A

Metabolism = the process where lipid soluble drugs are converted into water soluble molecules

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What are the names of the two reactions involved in metabolism in pharmacokinetics?

A
  1. ) Phase 1

2. ) Phase 2

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Describe a phase 1 reaction in metabolism

A
  • The drug is transformed into a more polar metabolite
  • This is done by adding a functional group
  • Common example is oxidation (catalysed by p450 enzymes)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Describe what P450 enzymes are

A
  • They are isoenzymes
  • They are present in the smooth endoplasmic reticulum
  • Grapefruit inhibits them
  • Smoking induces them
19
Q

Describe a phase 2 reaction in metabolism

A
  • Involves the formation of a covalent bond between: the drug, and its phase 1 metabolite
  • It is an endogenous substrate
  • End result: a less active drug that can be excreted by the kidneys
20
Q

Define excretion

A

Drugs and metabolites are excreted in:

  • fluids: urine and sweat
  • solids: faeces
  • gases
21
Q

Define antibiotic

A

Antibiotic = an antibacterial drug. Work by binding a target site on bacteria. Semi-synthetic derived of antibiotics are ‘antimicrobials’

22
Q

What does the class of ‘antimicrobials’ include

A
  • antifungal
  • antibacterial
  • anthelminthic
  • antiprotozoal
  • antivirals
23
Q

Define the key mechanisms of actions of antibiotics (what do they block)

A
  1. ) Inhibit protein synthesis
  2. ) Inhibit cell wall synthesis: e.g. beta lactams disrupt the peptidoglycan production by binding covalently to the PBPs-> results in lysis
  3. ) Inhibit nucleic acid synthesis
  4. ) Anti-metabolites
  5. ) Inhibit membrane function
24
Q

Give 4 examples of antibiotics that inhibit cell wall synthesis

A
  1. ) Penicillin: Penicillin V or Amoxicillin
  2. ) Cephalosporins: cephalexin or cefotaxime (use is person has penicillin allergy)
  3. ) Carbapenems: meropenem or entapenem
  4. ) monobactams: aztreonam
  • note: all beta-lactams
25
What is the difference between bacteriostatic and bactericidal antibiotics
- Bacteriostatic: prevents growth of bacteria by inhibiting protein synthesis or dna replication - Bactericidal: KILLS bacteria (99% in 24hrs) via cell wall synthesis inhibition
26
Macrolides: action/gram/example
- Action: inhibitor of protein synthesis - Used on gram + - E.g. clarithromycin
27
Lincosamides: action/gram/example
- Action: inhibitor of protein synthesis - Used on gram + - E.g. clindamycin: used in cellulitis
28
Tetracycline: action/gram/example
- Action: inhibitor of protein synthesis - Used on gram + - E.g. doxycycline used in cellulitis
29
Aminoglycosides: action/gram/example
- Action: inhibitor of protein synthesis - Used on gram - - E.g. gentamicin (IV only) used in UTI/infective endocarditis
30
Quinolones: action/gram/example
- Action: inhibitor of protein synthesis - Used on gram - - E.g. ciprofloxacin: used in penicillin allergy/UTI/intra-abdominal infection
31
Trimethoprim: action/gram/example
- Action: inhibitor of protein synthesis - Used on gram - - E.g. in UTI's
32
Nitrofurantoin: action/gram/example
- Action: inhibitor of protein synthesis - Used on gram - - E.g. in LOWER UTI
33
Define a cholinergic drug
Cholinergic drug = an agent that acts upon the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. The 3 main categories are direct acting, indirect acting: reversible and irreversible Bit on cholinergic pharmacology: - Cholinergic receptors are split into two groups: muscarinic and nicotinic - Muscarinic have: - M1:couples with Gq to increase Ca2+. In gut. M2: couples to GI to increase K+. In heart. M3: couples to Gq to increase Ca2+. In sweat. M4 M5 - Nicotinic: - have Nm AND Nn
34
Describe the mechanism of action for a cholinergic drug
- Direct acting: mimic the effects of acetylcholine - Indirect acting: work by binding to acetylcholine esterase enzyme (enzyme that breaks down ach to form acetyl and choline) so acetylcholine will build up in the body
35
List examples for cholinergic drugs
Direct acting examples: - pilocarpine: stimulates salivation and contracts smooth muscle of the iris by facilitating the drainage of aqueous humour (can treat glaucoma) - carbachol: decreases intra ocular pressure Indirect acting examples: - e.g. edrophonium/neostigmine: used for myasthenia Gravis
36
Define an adrenergic drug
Adrenergic drug = stimulate the nerves in your body's sympathetic nervous system - Remember: dopamine is a pre-curosir to noradrenaline and adrenaline
37
Describe the mechanism of action for an adrenergic drug
Receptors: - Alpha 1: increase intracellular calcium: contracts smooth muscle - Alpha 2: inhibit cAMP: have mixed effects on smooth muscle - Beta 1: raises cAMP: chronotropic + inotropic effects on heart - Beta 2: raises cAMP: relaxes smooth muscle - Beta 3: raises cAMP: enhances lipolysis/relaxes bladder detrusor muscle
38
List examples of adrenergic drugs
1.) Alpha agonists - cause alpha-1 activation results in vasoconstriction - treats nasal congestion 2. ) Alpha blockers - block alpha 1 receptors - decrease blood pressure (e.g. doxazosin) - Tamsulosin blocks alpha 1a in prostate to treat prostatic hypertrophy 3. ) Beta agonists: - B1 activation increases HR so bigger risk of arrhythmiasB2 activation causes muscle relaxation for treatment of asthma and also delays premature labour - Beta agonists cause tachycardia - B3 agonists reduce overactive bladder symptoms 4. ) Beta blockers: - E.g. propranalol: blocks beta 1 and beta 2. Slows heart rate - Atenolol: beta 1 selective so people don't wheeze - These lower B.P and are used for arrhythmias - Benefits: treats angina/M1 prevention/anxiety/high b.p - Cons: tiredness/bronchoconstriction/bradycardia
39
Define an analgesic drug
Analgesic drugs: relieve pain without causing a loss of consciousness How does pain work chemically: - Get trauma - Body produces phospholipase A2 which converts phospholipids in tissues to arachidonic acid - COX-2 enzyme will then convert this acid to endoperoxides - This is then converted to a range of prostaglandins - Prostaglandins cause two things: inflammation and pain transmission
40
Describe the mechanism of action for an analgesic drug
1.) NSAID's: block action of COX-2 so arachadonic acid is not converted into endoperoxides 2. ) Opiods: act at different opioid receptor sites to block the transmission of severe pain by reducing the amount of neuropeptides and neurotransmitters e.g. substance p and glutamate - opioid receptors are G protein coupled receptors and there are 3 subtypes: delta/kapa/new - work at the substantial gelatinosa in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord/medulla/thalamus and area of cerebral cortex
41
List examples of analgesic drugs
1. ) NSAIDS: ibuprofen | 2. ) Opioids
42
Define adverse drug reactions
adverse drug reaction = a response to a drug which is noxious and unintended
43
Define drug interactions
When two or more drugs interact with each other. This can lead to unintended side effects

Phase 2A: ICS (3 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions