Use of pharmacology in prescribing, pharmokinetics

Question 1

When 3 factors of pharmacology are used when determining what a drug should be prescribed for?

Answer 1

Pharmacokinetics

Pharmacodynamics

Adverse reactions to body caused by the drug

Question 2

What is pharmacodynamics?

Answer 2

Study of biochemical and physiological effects of drug action

Question 3

Are pharmacodynamics of a drug the same in everyone?

Answer 3

Leads to measurable change in body progress, but this differs in each person due to genetic variation altering body responses

Question 4

To gain licensing approval for a drug, where does data need to be obtained from?

Answer 4

Clinical trials

Question 5

To gain licensing approval, what 3 instructions for use of the drug need to be provided?

Answer 5

Dosage

Routes of administration

When to monitor and restrict drug use

Question 6

What 3 features of the drug needs to be proven in clinical trials to gain licensing approval?

Answer 6

Drug is safe for human use

Drug is effective

Drug has sufficient quality control

Question 7

What is the general mechanism of action of agonist drugs?

Answer 7

Binding to receptor causes activation, so there is cell response

Question 8

What is the general mechanism of action of antagonistic drugs?

Answer 8

Binding to receptor causes blocked receptor, so there is no cell response

Question 9

What is pharmacokinetics?

Answer 9

Study of interactions of drug and body metabolic/excretory processes after administration

Question 10

What drug characteristic is the main determinant of its dosage?

Answer 10

Drug half-life

Question 11

What is bioavailability?

Answer 11

The extent at which a drug enters systemic circulation then site of action, compared to the administered dose

Question 12

What 2 processes can affect bioavailability of a drug?

Answer 12

Absorption though stomach walls to reach bloodstream

First-pass metabolism

Question 13

What occurs in first-pass metabolism of a drug?

Answer 13

Liver enzymes activate the inactive form of drug, or inactivate active drug

Question 14

Why is bioavailability important in pharmacokinetics?

Answer 14

Used to determine the route of administration of a drug

Question 15

When drug has reached its target site of action, what should you consider in terms of pharmacokinetics?

Answer 15

How long does drug remain at appropriate concentration, is it eliminated in consistent way with no toxic effects

Question 16

What are the 3 categories of medicines approved for public use?

Answer 16

Prescription-only medicine

Pharmacy medicine

General sales list

Question 17

How must the public obtain a prescription-only medicine?

Answer 17

Prescribed by practitioner

Question 18

How must the public obtain a pharmacy medicine?

Answer 18

Prescribed by pharmacist

Question 19

How must the public obtain a general sales list drug?

Answer 19

Prescription not needed, so public can ‘self-select’ them

Question 20

What principle is applied to optimise the benefit-harm balance of a drug?

Answer 20

Right drug given at right dose at right time to right patient

Question 21

When optimising benefit-harm balance of a drug, why do you need to consider whether this is the right patient for the drug?

Answer 21

Clinical trials only show average effects of drug, so need to look at all drug options to choose which is best for particular patient in case they have adverse effects

Question 22

Give 5 reasons why harm occurs when prescribing a drug?

Answer 22

Age
Incorrect dosage
Incorrect duration of treatment
Genetic susceptibility
Physiological impairment

Question 23

Give 3 ways harm can be avoided when prescribing a drug?

Answer 23

Adjust dosage

Consider evidence to choose drug

Avoid a drug if patient has high risk of specific side effect/event occuring