Tutorials

Question 1

What is a drug?

Answer 1

A substance that, when administered, causes a physiological (and psychological) change in a biological system.

Question 2

What are excipients?

Answer 2

Substances added to a drug to aid the manufacture of the medicine, improve its stability or increase acceptability to patient

Question 3

What is the process of making a medicine containing a drug called?

Answer 3

Formulation (more specifically, developing a preparation of the drug which is acceptable for a patient e.g. incorporation into a tablet)

Question 4

What are the advantages of the oral route of administration?

Answer 4

• Permits self-medication
• No rigorous sterile preparations required
• Low incidence of anaphylactic shock
• Capacity to prevent complete absorption (vomiting, lavage)

Question 5

What are the disadvantages of the oral route of administration?

Answer 5

• Inappropriate for drugs altered by stomach acid
• Inappropriate for drugs that undergo extensive first-pass metabolism
• Requires patient compliance

Question 6

What are the advantages of the intravenous route of administration?

Answer 6

• Rapid onset of action

* Avoids poor absorption form and destruction within GIT - permits careful control of blood levels

Question 7

What are the disadvantages of the intravenous route of administration?

Answer 7

• Slow injection necessary (to avoid toxic bolus)
• Higher incidence of anaphylactic shock
• Trained personnel required
• Complications possible e.g. embolism, phlebitis, pain

Question 8

What are the advantages of inhalation as a route of administration?

Answer 8

• Ideal for small molecules, particles, gases, volatile liquids, aerosols
• Large SA presented
• Simple diffusion + phagocytic cells can clear particles

Question 9

What’s a disadvantage of inhalation as a route of administration?

Answer 9

Possible localised effect within lung (unless desired)

Question 10

What’s an advantage of the intramuscular route of administration?

Answer 10

• Relatively high blood flow

• increased during exercise
• enables depot therapy (drug with substance that slows release and prolongs action)

Question 11

What are the disadvantages of the intramuscular route of administration?

Answer 11

• Possible infection

* Possible nerve damage (especially gluteal region)

Question 12

What are the advantages of the subcutaneous route of administration?

Answer 12

• Local administration - dissemination can be minimised for local effect
• Enables depot therapy

Question 13

What are the disadvantages of the subcutaneous route of administration?

Answer 13

• Pain
• Abscess
• Tissue necrosis

Question 14

What are the advantages of the percutaneous route of administration?

Answer 14

• Local application and action

* Lipid soluble compounds diffuse rapidly

Question 15

What are the disadvantages of the percutaneous route of administration?

Answer 15

• Local irritation and skin reactions

* Alteration of skin structure