What is a Drug? Flashcards
1
Q
Describe the meaning of Potency, Selectivity and Specificity
A
- Potency: Amount of chemical required to produce an effect
- Selectivity (biological): Narrowness of a drug’s range of actions on particular receptors, cellular processes or tissues
- Specificity (chemical): Relationship between chemical structure of drug and pharmacological effects
2
Q
What are different sources of drugs?
A
- Micro-organisms
- Humans and other animals
- Mineral or mineral products
Substances synthesised in laboratories - Plant
3
Q
What are 3 types of drugs names?
A
- Chemical
- Approved (‘generic’)
- Trade
4
Q
What is Generic Prescribing?
A
- An addition al brand of an existing medicine
- Contains same active ingredient
- Can be manufactured and sold by other pharmaceutical companies once the patent
- The Therapeutic Goods Administration requires the generics medicines meet the same quality criteria and manufacturing standards as the original brands
5
Q
Bioequivalence
A
- Bioequivalence refers to whether the generic medicine releases the active ingredient into the bloodstream at the same rate and to the same extent as the original medicine
- Bioequivalence is demonstrated by conducting a bioavailability study
6
Q
What are OTC medicines?
A
Over the Counter medicines are medicines:
- that are not prescription medicines
- hat are not complementary medicines
- considered to to be lower risk than prescription medicines