Pharmacology Overview Flashcards
What is pharmacodynamics?
The effects that drugs have on the body
What is pharmacokinetics?
The effects that the body has on the drug (absorption, distribution, elimination)
What is an agonist
Chemicals that activate a receptor and produce a response
What is an antagonist?
Chemical that binds to a receptor but does not produce a response
Give an example of an antagonist and how does it work?
Narcan blocks receptor so opioids can’t bind
What is a partial agonist?
Drug that binds to and activates a given receptor but have only partial efficacy at the receptor relative to a full agonist.
What is absorption?
Movement of the drug from site of administration to the blood circulation
What is first-pass metabolism?
Potentially harmful chemicals pass via the portal vein to the liver, where they are chemically altered.
Why might certain drugs administered by injection or in high doses?
To avoid breakdown in first-pass metabolism.
What are the two main types administration routes for drugs?
Enteral and parenteral
Give examples of enteral administration routes.
Oral
Sublingual
Rectal
Give examples of parenteral administration routes.
Intravenous
Intramuscular
Subcutaneous
What are two additional routes of administration besides enteral and parenteral?
Inhalation
Topical
What is the most rapid and accurate method of drug administration?
IV injection
What is a drawback of IV admin?
Very quick onset of drug, little time to correct and overdose or allergic reaction
How is IM injection different from IV?
slower, more even absorption over a period of time.
How can absorption of IM injections be slowed?
Combining drug with a drug that constricts blood vessels or with vegetable oils
What is absorption like for drugs administered through SC injection?
slow but variable
How is absorption effected by inhalation
Rapid, making drug effect rapid
Why is absorption rapid for inhalation?
Lungs have large surface area and many capillaries
What are the benefits of sublingual drug admin?
drug avoids gastric acid, enzymes, first-pass metabolism.
Give an example of when it might be a good idea to use a sublingual drug.
Person is vomiting
What are benefits of intranasal admin?
avoids first-pass metabolism, and bypasses the blood-brain barrier, allowing high brain concentrations
How does rectal admin interact with first-pass metabolism
may be avoided depending on placement
When is rectal administration beneficial
Infants or patients who are vomiting, unconscious or unable to take medication orally.
What is drug action?
Molecular changes produced by a drug when it binds to a target site or receptor.
What is drug effect?
Alteration in physiological or psychological functions
What is elimination rate?
Amount of time it takes for the drug to be eliminated from the body.
What term is elimination rate often described in?
Half-life
What is the general rule of thumb for half-lifes?
Takes 5 half-lifes for a drug to be eliminated
What is tolerance?
An individual’s reduced response to a drug following its repeated use.
What is metabolic tolerance?
Increased rate of metabolism leads to reduced drug concentration, therefore reduced response.
What pharmacodynamic tolerance?
Change of receptors, e.g., downregulation
What behavioural tolerance?
Tolerance occurs in the same environment in which the drug was used but not noticeable in a novel environment.
What is state-dependent learning
Tasks learned under the influence of psychoactive drugs may subsequently be performed better in a drugged state than drug free.
What are the different type of drug names?
Chemical name
General name
Brand name
Street name
Where can you find information about drugs.
Peer review literature
Manufacturers info (e.g., drug monographs)
Websites for drug users (Erowid)
