4. Pharmacology Tutorial

Question 1

Definition of free drug

Answer 1

Less bound a drug is, less predictable it is

Drug’s efficiency may be affected by the degree which it binds to proteins within plasma

Question 2

Barriers that control access of endogenous substances or xenobiotics to the CNS (2)

Answer 2

Blood-brain barrier (BBB)

Blood-cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) barrier

Question 3

Phase 1 drug metabolism definition

Answer 3

Deactivation

Question 4

Phase 2 drug metabolism definition

Answer 4

Excretion - addition of large molecules

Question 5

Effect of age on drug pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics (2)

Answer 5

Older a patient is, higher chance of an ailment affecting drug pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics
Young patients - under-developed immune system, altering drug pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics

Question 6

Emergency medical drugs in dentistry (8)

Answer 6

Adrenaline (1mg/ml)
Aspirin (300mg dispersible)
Glucagon injection (1mg)
GTN spray (400ug/dose)
Midazolam (5mg/ml)
Oral glucose
Oxygen
Salbutamol inhaler (100ug/actuation)

Question 7

When to seek alternative routes to oral drug transmission (4)

Answer 7

Emesis due to irritation of GI mucosa by drug
Destruction by digestive enzymes/acidic gastric fluid
Irregularities in absorption in presence of food/other drugs
Opioid absorption may be reduced by gastric emptying following surgery

Question 8

Pharmacodynamic interactions definition

Answer 8

Between drugs which have similar/antagonistic pharmacological effects/side effects

Question 9

Pharmacokinetic interactions definition

Answer 9

When one drug alters the absorption, distribution, metabolism or secretion of another, increasing/reducing amount of drug available to produce its pharmacological effects