UNIT 4 Pharmacology I Flashcards
define volume of distribution & recite the equation
Vd describes the relationship b/n a drug’s plasma concentration following a specific dose. It is a theoretical measure of how a drug distributes throughout the body.
Vd assumes two things:
1. drug distributes instantaneously (full equilibration occurs at t=0)
2. drug isn’t subjected to biotransformation or elimination before it fully distributes
Vd = amount of drug/desired plasma concentration
What are the implications when a drug’s Vd exceeds TBW? What is Vd if less than TBW?
If Vd>TBW, the drug is assumed to be lipophilic:
- it distributes into TBW & fat
- it will require a higher dose to achieve a given plasma concentration
- ex: propofol, fentanyl
If Vd
How do you calculate the loading dose for an IV medication? For a PO medication?
loading = Vd*desired plasma concentration/bioavailability
for an IV drug, the bioavailability is always 1
for a PO drug, the bioavailability will be <1 d/t first pass metabolism
What is clearance? What factors increase/decrease it?
clearance is the volume of plasma that is cleared of drug per unit time
increased by:
- increased blood flow to clearing organ
- increased extraction ratio
- increased drug dose
decreased by
- increased half life
- increased drug concentration in central compartment
What is steady state?
occurs when the amount of the drug entering the body is equivalent to the amount of drug being eliminated from the body- there is a stable plasma concentration. Each of the compartments has equilibrated, although the total amount of drug may be different in different compartments
steady state is achieved after 5 half-times
compare and contrast the alpha and beta distribution phases on the plasma concentration curve
graphical depiction of the biphasic decrease of a drug’s plasma concentration following a rapid IV bolus
alpha phase: describes drug distribution from the plasma to the tissues
beta phase: begins as plasma concentration falls below tissue concentration. Concentration gradient reverses, which causes the drug to re-enter the plasma. B phase describes drug elimination from the plasma by the clearing organs
You have administered 30mg of esmolol to a patient after a sudden (and profound) elevation in HR. After 3 half-lives, what percentage of your initial dose remains in the patient’s bloodstream?
12.5%
What is context sensitive half-time?
the time required for the plasma concentration to decline by 50% after discontinuing the drug infusion
Discuss the CS1/2t of fentanyl, alfentanil, sufentanil, adn remifentanil. Which has the longest? Which has the shortest? Why?
The CS1/2t for a fentanyl infusion increases as a function of how long it was infused (since it has more time to fill up the peripheral compartments). This is also true for alfentanil & sufentanil to lesser degrees.
Remifentanil is the exception. Although it’s highly lipophilic, it is quickly metabolized by plasma esterases & has a similar CS1/2t regardless of time infused.
What is the difference b/n a strong and weak acid or base?
the difference is the degree of ionization:
- if you put a strong acid or base in water, it will ionize completely
- if you put a weak acid or base in water, a fraction of it will be ionized and the remaining fraction will be unionized
What is ionization? What 2 factors determine how much a molecule will ionize?
ionization describes the process where a molecule gains a positive or negative charge
the amount of ionization is dependent on two things:
- the pH of the solution
- the pKa of the drug
Finish this sentence: When pKa and pH are the same, _____
50% of the drug will be ionized and 50% will be unionized
How does ionization affect solubility, pharmacologic effect, hepatic biotransformation, renal elimination, and diffusion across lipid bilayers?
ionized:
- water solubility
- not pharmacologically active
- less hepatic biotransformation
- more renal elimination
- no diffusion across lipid bilayers (BBB, GI, placenta)
nonionized:
- lipid solubility
- pharmacologically active
- more hepatic biotransformation
- less renal elimination
- diffusion across lipid bilayers (BBB, GI, placenta)
What happens when you put an acid in a basic solution? How about an acidic solution?
“like dissolves like”
acid in a basic solution:
- acidic drug will be highly ionized in a basic pH
- acidic drug wants to donate protons & basic solution wants to accept
acid in an acidic solution
- acidic drug will be highly unionized in an acidic pH
- acidic drug & acidic solution both want to donate protons
Can you tell if a drug is an acid or a base by looking at it’s name? if so, how?
most drugs are weak acids or weak bases. They are usually prepared as a salt that dissociates in solution.
Weak acid is paired w/ a positive ion such as sodium, calcium, or magnesium (ex. sodium thiopental)
weak base is paired w/ a negative ion such as chloride or sulfate (ex. lidocaine hydrochloride, morphine sulfate)
Name the 3 key plasma proteins. Does each bind acidic drugs, basic drugs, or both?
albumin: binds primarily acidic drugs, but does bind to some neutral and basic drugs
a1-acid glycoprotein: binds basic drugs
B-globulin: binds to basic drugs
What conditions reduce albumin concentration
liver disease renal disease old age malnutrition pregnancy
What conditions affect alpha1 acid glycoprotein concentration?
increased:
- surgical stress
- MI
- chronic pain
- RA
- advanced age
decreased:
- neonates
- pregnancy
How do changes in plasma protein binding affect plasma drug concentration?
decreased PB –> increased plasma concentration
increased PB –> decreased plasma concentration
How do you calculate changes in plasma protein binding?
[free drug] + [unbound PB sites] [bound drug]
if a drug is 98% PB and the bound fraction is reduced to 96%, the unbound or free fraction has increased by 100%!
A new anesthetic drug is cleared from the body at a rate proportional to its plasma concentration. What kinetic model best describes the elimination of this drug?
first order kinetics (a constant fraction of drug is eliminated per unit time)
most drugs follow this model
alcohol is cleared from the body via zero order kinetics. How ill this drug’s rate of elimination change as plasma drug concentration changes?
it won’t
a constant amount of drug is eliminated per unit time. Said another way, the rate of elimination is independent of plasma drug concentration.
Other examples:
- aspirin
- phenytoin
- warfarin
- heparin
- theophylline
What is the function of a phase 1 reaction? List 3 examples.
Phase 1 reactions result in small molecular changes that increase the polarity (water solubility) of a molecule to prepare it for a phase 2 reaction - it creates a location on the molecule that will allow the phase 2 reaction to take place. Most phase 1 biotransformations are carried out by the P450 system.
oxidation: adds oxygen to a compound
reduction: adds electrons to a compound
hydrolysis: adds water to a compound to split it apart (usually an ester)
What is the function of a phase 2 reaction? List 5 common substrates.
conjugates (adds on) an endogenous, highly polar, water soluble substrate to the molecule. This results in a water soluble, biologically inactive molecule ready excretion
common substrates:
- glucuronic acid
- glycine
- acetic acid
- sulfuric acid
- methyl group
some drugs do not require preparation by phase I reactions & may proceed directly to phase II reactions