Topic 4 - Pharmacology knowledge and understanding: pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics

Question 1

What is the term pharmacokinetics?

Answer 1

the study of absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of the drug (what the body does to the drug)

Question 2

What is the term pharmacodynamics?

Answer 2

the study of the effect of the drugs. It is the biochemical and physiological effects of the drug on the body (what the drug does to the body)

Question 3

What are the factors affecting oral absorption of drugs?

Answer 3

• Ability to take the medicine
  
  • Compliance with taking medicine
  • Organ maturity
  • Gut surgery/disease
  • Dietary intake
  • Hydration

Question 4

What is the term bioavailability?

Answer 4

the proportion of the administered drug that reaches the blood circulation or intended site of action

Question 5

What are the factors that impact bioavailability?

Answer 5

o Drug interactions
o Food interactions
o pH stomach
o First pass metabolism
o Organ maturity
o Age
o Drug formulation
o Gastric motility (diarrhoea/ vomiting/Constipation)
o Gastric emptying
o Previous GIT surgery/GIT disease

Question 6

What is the term metabolism?

Answer 6

the biochemical alteration of the drug in the body. The body treats most dugs as foreign substances and tries to inactivate or eliminate them by various biochemical reactions. These processes convert the drugs into more polar, soluble substances so they can be excreted by the kidneys.

Question 7

What is meant by the term antagonist?

Answer 7

Antagonist: binds to a receptor and stops a response

Question 8

What is meant by the term agonist?

Answer 8

Agonist: binds to a receptor and produces a response

Question 9

What is the term drug selectivity?

Answer 9

The degree to which a drug acts on a specific site relative to others. Drugs which are non-selective may affect other organs/ areas in the body and produce adverse reactions