Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

Pharmacology 1 > pharmacology basics > Flashcards

pharmacology basics Flashcards

(97 cards)

Start Studying
1
Q

what are the 6 rights of drug administration?

A 
Right Patient
Right medication
Right Dose
Right Route
Right Time
Right Documentation
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

what is pharmacology?

A

the science of the properties of drugs and their effect on the body

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

What is a drug/medicine?

A

any chemical agent that can have a biological response on the body - therapeutic or adverse

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

what names are used for drugs?

A

trade name

generic name

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

What are the medical sources of drugs/medicines?

A

plants
animal, microorganisms or by body
synthetic
complementary medicines

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

what acronym is used for drugs over the counter and prescription only?

A 
drugs over the counter (OTC)
prescription only (POM)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Name the two classifications that can be used for drugs

A

Pharmacological - how they work (beta blockers)

Therapeutic - what they do (anti-hypertensive)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What are we legally obligated to do as professionals in regard to drugs?

A

use standards/ guidelines
confirm accuracy of script
use knowledge and competence
have understanding of the drug

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

what should the targets of drugs be?

A

needs to bind to specific targets - the more specific the drug is to the target the better it works

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

What mechanism is used to describe the binding of drugs to their targets?

A

lock and key mechanism

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

name five targets which drugs use

A

membrane
nucleus - drugs need special properties to enable it to reach nucleus
cytosol
enzymes - drug slows/ speeds up reactions
foreign protein

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

name three areas with in the membrane that drugs can target

A

membrane receptors
ion channels
carrier molecules/ pumps

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

what does a drug influence when it targets the nucleus?

A

DNA production

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

What are drugs used to target?

A

bacteria
virus (retrovirals)
fungus
worms - ameboa

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

Give examples of 2 drugs which bind to enzymes

A

Aspirin - COX enzyme

Viagra - increases blood flow

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

Give examples of 3 drugs which bind to membrane receptors

A

Salbutamol - dilate airways
Beta blockers
anti-histamine - blocks effect of histamine

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

Give examples of 3 drugs which bind to ion channels

A

Local anaesthetics - blocks pain response

Benzodiazepines (valium) - blocks fluoride transport to brain

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Give examples of 2 drugs which bind to carrier molecules (or pumps)

A

Omeprazole - blocks acid production

Cocaine - keeps noradrenaline active

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Give an example of a drug which bind to DNA

A

Steroids - reduces inflammation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Give an example of a drug that binds to a foreign protein

A

Penicillin

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

what is an agonist?

A

Activates receptor

binds to a receptor and mimics chemicals in body

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

what is an antagonist?

A

doesn’t activate receptor but blocks it.

binds to receptor and stops chemicals producing response

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

what happens when a drug binds to a receptor?

A

drug binds
activation of 2nd messenger
cascade of enzyme reaction
results in response

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

describe some cellular responses to drugs

A 
muscle cell - contraction
glands - secretion
Muscle - excitation
Nerve - excitation/ inhibition
Tumour cell - interrupt cell cycle
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Explain how steroids can target the nucleus
steroids are based on structure of cholesterol which is lipid soluble, therefore passes through membrane
26
explain the term potency and the effect that high potency has
Potency means that it has a high affinity with the receptor - the shape matches well High potency means that a small dose is required for response
27
in children is potency higher or lower?
higher
28
Explain the steps involved in drug deposition
``` Intake Absorption Distribution - drug can go to target and be directly excreted or be metabolism before drug cell interaction Drug Cell Interaction Metabolism Excretion ```
29
List 8 way in which drugs can be administered
``` Injection Oral Rectal Topical Vaginally Inhalation Transdermal - patches Sustained release ```
30
name 6 types of injection
``` epidural - into epidural space intradermal - few layers of skin intramuscular subcutaneous - below subcutaneous layer intravenous - (IV) intrathecal - into subarachnoid space ```
31
which is the most common route for drug administration?
oral
32
list some advantages of oral drugs
easy for patients to self administer well absorbed - small intestine suspension or pill
33
list some disadvantages of oral drugs
can interact with stomach acid - degradation | not suitable in vomiting/ diarrhoea/ frequent gastric emptying
34
list some advantages of topical drugs
convenient overdose risk minimised local effect
35
list some disadvantages of topical drugs
poorly absorbed | negative effect on skin
36
give 3 examples of transdermal drugs
HRT patches nicotine patches angina patches
37
list some advantages of transdermal drugs
long lasting constant level of drug in blood wide range of patients high potency
38
list some disadvantages of transdermal drugs
variable absorption | drug needs to be very lipid soluble to cross cell membrane
39
rectal administration can produce a local or systemic effect?
both
40
what patient would it be useful to use rectal administration?
a vomiting patient
41
is rectal administration fast or slow acting?
fast
42
give 4 examples of drugs which could be administered rectally
analgesics diazepam prednisolone anti-fungals
43
why does inhalation of drugs cause a rapid change in plasma concentration?
lungs have huge surface area and good blood flow
44
does inhalation of drug cause a local or systemic effect?
both
45
what is a disadvantage of inhalation of drugs?
drug doesn't always reach target
46
what are the advantages of parenteral routes
rapid action bypass stomach patient controlled syringe driver
47
what are the disadvantages of parenteral routes
administration by a trained person extreme care needed to deliver correctly accidental overdose more likely painful
48
what is contained within a medicine?
active drug and excipients
49
what are excipients used for?
help protect drug from gastric juices | provide sustained release - this impacts on bioavaliablity
50
explain the steps involved in dissolution of oral drugs
tablet granules to fine particles - in GI tract solution - absorption in stomach and mainly SI
51
explain the steps involved when lipid soluble drugs cross the cell membrane
they move via diffusion from the gut to epithelial cells to bloodstream
52
what happens to water soluble drugs?
they remain in the gut and can not cross the epithelial cells to enter the blood
53
give 3 examples of drugs which can be given by inhalation
nitrous oxide GTN salbutamol
54
how do most drugs cross the cell membrane?
via passive diffusion
55
what ways other than passive diffusion can drugs cross the cell membrane?
aquaporin's endocytosis - eg. insulin facilitated transport - drugs move down conc. gradient via protein channels (no ATP needed) active transport - drugs move against conc. gradient (ATP needed)
56
what is bioavailability?
the amount of drug which ultimately enters the bloodstream
57
what is the maximum bioavailability?
1 - only happens in IV administration
58
explain what happens during first pass metabolism
liver responsible for metabolism drug absorbed in SI then goes to liver liver degrades drug causing low bioavailability
59
why is angina drug administered under the tongue?
to bypass first pass metabolism
60
what is distribution?
movement of drug to the body's tissues
61
what factors affect distribution?
lipid solubility blood flow to organ - higher blood flow = better distribution binding of drug to protein
62
what is the blood flow to the liver and kidneys?
liver - 680 b/flow | kidneys - 3,333 b/flow
63
which organ has the highest blood flow
kidneys
64
why does the drug binding to protein affect distribution?
when drug binds to protein it is too large to cross the cell membrane or bind to target site
65
what is polypharmacy?
taking more than four drugs - drug interaction could be caused
66
why is it important to concerned drug interactions when using drugs that bind to proteins?
if taking two drugs that bind to proteins the drugs will not work together regular testing is needed to establish efficacy
67
what is metabolism?
drug removal
68
what needs to be adjusted in patients with liver disease?
doses must be adjusted as excretion of drug is less effective
69
most drugs are lipophilic, how are lipophilic drugs excreted?
lipophilic drugs will recirculate in body - they need to become water soluble to be excreted
70
how are lipophilic drugs converted to become water soluble
enzyme mediated conversion - carried out in the liver using hepatocytes (smooth ER)
71
where does metabolism occur in the body?
``` kidneys liver GI tract brain plasma ```
72
how many phases does metabolism occur in?
2 - I and II
73
describe what happens in phase I metabolism
(Producing a metabolite) modify chemical structure of drug make drug slightly more water soluble preparing drug for phase II
74
what usually happens to drugs following phase I metabolism?
drug is usually less active than parent drug
75
what are pro drugs?
sometimes following phase I metabolism drugs become more chemically active (pharmacological activation) these are called pro drugs
76
what is pharmacological activation?
a drug that become chemically active following phase I metabolism
77
give two examples of pro drugs
prednisone - prednisolone codeine - morphine (second drugs are the metabolites)
78
what happens during phase II metabolism?
'conjugate' drug to large molecule (eg. amino acid)
79
what generally happens to drug following phase II metabolism?
``` water soluble easily excreted increased molecular weight inactive (pharmacological inactivation) reduced affinity to binding site ```
80
what can occur due to drug interactions?
drug metabolism could be induced or inhibted
81
what would happen if drug metabolism was induced?
could speed up metabolism of another drug meaning it is metabolised too quickly to work
82
what would happen if drug metabolism was inhibited?
stops drug from being metabolised quickly - thus producing toxic concentration
83
give an example of a drug interaction
fluoxetine (Prozac) and grapefruit juice
84
what is excretion?
removal of drug metabolites and water soluble drugs
85
via what routes can excretion of drugs occur?
urine/ bile - often faeces - less often lungs / skin - sometimes
86
what factors increase drug excretion?
increased blood flow to kidneys | reduced plasma protein binding
87
what factors can increased or decrease drug metabolism?
genetic differences | drug interactions
88
what is the therapeutic response to drugs related to?
level of drug in plasma
89
what is the half life?
time it takes drug to drop by 50% from peak level
90
how does half life influence drug dosing?
most likely that next dose of drug will be given after 1 half life (eg. HL 4hrs - next dose 4hrs)
91
what is a therapeutic window?
window in which we see a therapeutic effect
92
what precautions would you take if the drug to be given had a narrow therapeutic window?
not much difference between low and upper level | patients often need therapeutic concentration test to check drug within safe limits
93
explain how the half life is determined
give drug | take measurement regularly and plot on graph
94
work through this example to determine how much drug would be in the body after 10hrs. patient takes 20mg of drug with half life of 2hrs
``` 2hrs - 10mg 4hrs - 5mg 6hrs - 2.5mg 8hrs - 1.25mg 10hrs - 0.625mg (drug amount now negligible) ```
95
97% of drugs are eliminated from the body after how many half lives?
5
96
what would be required if a patient needed a drug to reach the therapeutic range quickly?
a loading dose would be given
97
what is a compound medicine and give an example?
2 or more meds in one tablet ('co' used) | co-codamol - codeine / paracetamol

Pharmacology 1 (11 decks)

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