Introduction to Pharmacology
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What is Pharmacology?
Pharmacology is the study of drugs, including their actions and effects in living systems
What is a drug?
A drug is any chemical that affects the physiological processes of a living organism
What is pharmacodynamic?
What the drug does to the body
What is pharmacokinetics?
What the body does to the drug
What are the three different names of drugs?
• Chemical name • Generic name • Trade (brand name)
Describe the chemical name of a drug?
The name of the drug. Describes the chemical composition e.g acetyl-p-aminophenol
Describe the generic name of a drug?
The official name is listed in publications and used for prescribing. Has to the prescribe by generic name e.g paracetamol
Describe the trade name of a drug?
Market name of the drug e.g panadol
What are the four main molecular targets drugs act on to exert their effect?
• Carries • Enzymes • Ion channels • Receptors
What is the agonist of a drug?
Binds to and activates the receptor. It is the key and makes receptor work
What is the antagonist of a drug?
Binds to and deactivates receptor. Blocks the receptor
What are the four things the body does to the drug? (pharmacokinetics)
• Absorption • Distribution • Metabolism • Excretion
Describe absorption?
Absorption refers to the passage of medications from the site of administration into the blood.
What can slow absorption?
Presence of food and liquid in the stomach
What is the hepatic first passage?
Orally administrated drugs travel first through the portal system and liver before entering the systemic circulation. The liver removes 30% of the drug taken orally into the body so you have to make sure you give the patient the right amount of medication. E.g 30mg morphine is equivalent to 10mg IV
Describe distribution?
Distribution refers to the movement of the drug from the blood to the body tissue.
What is drug distribution influenced by?
• Capillary permeability • Cardiac function • Tissue binding • Plasma protein binding
What are drug distribution barriers?
• Blood-brain-barrier - Placental barrier
Describe metabolism?
The process of chemical modification of the drug. The liver is the primary metabolism site. (Gets rid of drug)
Factors that affect the variability of drug metabolism?
• Genetics • Environmental • Disease states • Age
Describe excretion?
Excretion is the removal of the drug from the body. The kidneys excrete the majority of drugs, therefore assessment of the renal function is important
What other ways can drugs be excreted?
• Bile • Faeces • Expired air • Sweat • Breastmilk