2- Clinical pharmacology: the use of drugs to treat patients

Question 1

Define Pharmacodynamics

Answer 1

What the drug does to the body

Question 2

Define pharmacokinetics

Answer 2

What the body does to the drug

Question 3

List 4 considerations when choosing a medication

Answer 3

Owner - finances/physical ability
Patient - Young/old
Compliance
Shelf stock
Disease factors - therapeutic goal

Question 4

List 4 Drug Targets

Answer 4

Receptors, Ion channels, Enzymes, Carrier molecules, Structural proteins, DNA

Question 5

Describe the difference between a full agonist and partial agonist

Answer 5

Full = Max dose elicits a max response
Partial = Even at max dose its effect is not as great as full

Question 6

Define potency

Answer 6

Amount of drug required to produce 50% of its maximal effects

Question 7

Define efficacy

Answer 7

Maximal therapeutic effect a drug can produce

Question 8

Define therapeutic index

Answer 8

The ratio between the toxic dose and the therapeutic dose of a drug

Looks at the effect of the drug as we increase the dose

Question 9

Define tachyphylaxis

Answer 9

Rapid decrease in response to a drug

Loss of target sensitivity
- effect of drug can decrease when given continuously/repeatedly

Question 10

List 3 causes of tachyphylaxis

Answer 10

Change in receptors (Resistance)
Loss of receptor number
Exhaustion of mediators
Increased metabolic degradation of the drug
Physiological adaption