Pharmacy

Question 1

What is pharmacokinetics?

Answer 1

the study of what the body does to a drug (i.e. how the drug is handled)

Question 2

What is pharmacodynamics?

Answer 2

the study of what a drug does to the body (i.e. how it works)

Question 3

What is the ADME principle?

Answer 3

Absorption
Distribution
Metabolism
Excretion

Question 4

What does the rate of absorption of drugs into systemic circulation depend on?

Answer 4

the route of administration

Question 5

What are the different methods of absorption of drugs?

Answer 5

• Oral
• Buccal (via the cheek)
• Inhalation
• Rectal
• Topical
• intravenous/ Intramuscular/ Subcutaneous

Question 6

What is topical absorption of drugs?

Answer 6

absorption through the skin

Question 7

What is rectal absorption of drugs?

Answer 7

reduced 1st pass metabolism

Question 8

What is inhalation absorption of drugs?

Answer 8

large surface area and high blood flow

Question 9

What is buccal absorption of drugs?

Answer 9

high blood flow, avoids 1st pass metabolism

Question 10

What is oral absorption of drugs?

Answer 10

convenient, efficient, difference in pH, subject to 1st pass metabolism

Question 11

What is the 1st pass metabolism & bioavailability?

Answer 11

1st pass effect decreases the active drug’s concentration upon reaching systemic circulation or its site of action
(often associated with the liver)

Question 12

What are important factors determining distribution?

Answer 12

• Protein binding
• Blood flow
• Membrane permeation
• Tissue solubility

Question 13

What factors influence drug metabolism?

Answer 13

• Genetics
• Age
• Gender
• Liver Size & Function
• Circadian Rhythm
• Body Temperature
• Nutritional State
• Other medications (can increase/decrease metabolism)

Question 14

What are common protein targets for drugs?

Answer 14

• Receptors
• Ion channels
• Carrier molecules
• Enzymes

Question 15

What are examples of pro-drugs?

Answer 15

• Codeine
• Enalapril
• Dabigatran
• Gabapentin

Question 16

What are pro-drugs?

Answer 16

inactive drugs given orally, which rely on conversion by enzymes into the active drug

Question 17

Why do we need medicines management?

Answer 17

• Growing number of people living with a long-term condition (LTC)
• 25% of people over 60 report having 2 or more LTCs
• Estimated the >2.9 million people in the UK have multimorbidity (NICE 2015)
• Increase in polypharmacy (esp. elderly)
• Increased exposure to number of prescribers
• Medicines need to be optimised (managed) to improve safety, improve concordance, reduce waste & costs
• Often seen as ‘someone else’s job

Question 18

What are the benefits of non-medical prescribing and safety?

Answer 18

• Numerous studies have demonstrated non-medical prescribing is safe and equivalent to traditional care systems
• Patients report greater flexibility, easier access to care and that chronic conditions are better managed
• Greater professional autonomy and broader opportunities

Question 19

What are the (4) classifications of medicines?

Answer 19

• Prescription Only Medicine (POM)
• Pharmacy Medicine (P)
• General Sales List Medicine (GSL)
• Over The Counter Medicine (OTC)