Pharmacology Lecture 1

Question 1

Define a Drug

Answer 1

A substance that alters normal physiological function

Question 2

Define a Medicine

Answer 2

The means by which drugs are delivered to the site of action in the body

Question 3

Define Pharmacology

Answer 3

Scientific study of drugs and their effects

Question 4

Define Therapeautics

Answer 4

Treatment of diseases, art of healing

Question 5

2 other terms for ‘approved name’ of a drug

Answer 5

1. Non-proprietary name

2. Generic Name

Question 6

A benefit of using the approved name of a drug?

Answer 6

The approved name is distinctive in sound and spelling, and should not be liable to confusion with other names in common use.

Question 7

The main difference between Pharmacodynamics (PD) and Pharmacokinetics (PK)

Answer 7

Pharmacodynamics is about what the DRUG does to the body. (How the drug acts)

Pharmacokinetics is about what the BODY does to the DRUG. (The passage of the drug through the body)

Question 8

What are the 2 general types of action a drug can have? i.e. what are the 2 general categories of how we get the drug to the site of action?

Answer 8

Local
and
Systemic

Question 9

Pharmacy abbrev for Enteral (Oral)?

Answer 9

PO

Question 10

Pharmacy abbrev for Nasogastric?

Answer 10

NG

Question 11

Pharmacy abbrev for Sublingual?

Answer 11

S/L

SL

Question 12

Pharmacy abbrev for Controlled release?

Answer 12

MR

Maybe stands for modified release?

Question 13

What does the pharmacy abbrev PR stand for?

Answer 13

Rectal

Question 14

What does the pharmacy abbrev IV, IM or S/C stand for?

Answer 14

Parenteral

Question 15

What is the therapeutic index?

Answer 15

The ratio between lethal dose and therapeutic dose

How close the safe does is to the toxic dose

Question 16

What does ADME stand for and does it relate to pharmacodynamics or pharmacokinetics?

Answer 16

Absorption
Distribution
Metabolism
Excretion

Pharmacokinetics

Question 17

What does Absorption refer to in Pharmacokinetics?

Answer 17

The uptake of drugs into blood stream.

Question 18

What does Distribution refer to in Pharmacokinetics?

Answer 18

The movement of drugs from blood stream into extravascular fluids and tissues.

Question 19

What does Metabolism refer to in Pharmacokinetics?

Answer 19

The biotransformation of drugs.

Question 20

What does Excretion refer to in Pharmacokinetics?

Answer 20

Removal of drugs by the kidneys.

Question 21

Define the half life of a drug.

Answer 21

The time taken for the concentration of the drug in the blood to decrease by half.

Question 22

What are the methods that can influence how long a drug remains in the blood stream?

Answer 22

• Modified Release
• Controlled Release
• Slow Release
• XL
• Maintain drug plasma concentrations for prolonged periods

Question 23

Define Volume of Distribution

Answer 23

A theoretical concept that measures the extent to which a drug moves into the tissues (from the blood?)

Question 24

What does a small and large VD indicate?

Answer 24

Small Vd = most drug in blood

Large Vd = most drug in tissue

Question 25

Define clearance (Cl)

Answer 25

The volume of plasma completely cleared of drug per unit time.

Question 26

What is the equation for the rate of elimination?

Answer 26

Rate of elimination = Cl x Cp

Question 27

What are the respective major sites of metabolism and excretion? (i.e. the routes of elimination)

Answer 27

Metabolism; Liver.

Excretion; Kidneys.

Question 28

What is the steady state of a drug?

Answer 28

Where Rate in = Rate out.

Question 29

Define Bioavailability (F)

Answer 29

Bioavailability is the percentage or fraction (or proportion) of the administered dose which reaches the systemic circulation of the patient.

Question 30

State the equation involving bioavailability

Answer 30

F X DOSE = amount of drug absorbed

Question 31

What factors can affect Bioavailability?

Answer 31

Dose form
Chemical form
First pass effect

Question 32

The higher the therapeutic index…

Answer 32

The safer the drug is