Topic 1 - Drugs and Medicines

Question 1

What is a drug

Answer 1

A substance or product that is used or intended to be used to modify or explore physiological systems or pathological states for the benefit of the recipient

Question 2

What’s the difference between potency, selectivity and specificity?

Answer 2

Potency: amount of chemical required to produce an effect

Selectivity: Narrowness off a drug’s range of actions on particular receptors, cellular processes or tissues

Specificity: Relationship. between chemical structure of drug and pharmacological effects

Question 3

What is the difference between chemical, generic and trade name?

Answer 3

Trade name is used to market the drug (brand name) whereas the generic name is the name of the active ingredient.

Chemical name is name of the chemical ingredient.

Question 4

What is bioequivalence?

Answer 4

Whether the generic medicine releases the the active ingredient into the bloodstream at the same rate and to the same extent as the original medicine

Question 5

Describe what an ideal drug is using the terms potency, selectivity and specificity

Answer 5

An ideal drug would have a high potency, selectivity (only affecting desired organ) and also specificity (resulting in intended physiological responses)

Question 6

Describe drug classifications

Answer 6

• Use: therapeutic, recreational etc.

- Mechanism of action: