Introduction and absorption

Question 1

What is pharmacology?

Answer 1

The science-orientated study of drug action

Question 2

What is the definition of a drug?

Answer 2

A chemical entity of known structure, other than a nutrient/dietary supplement, which causes a biological effect in a living orgainism

Question 3

What is the definition of a medicine?

Answer 3

A preparation of one or more drug, alongside other substances (stabilisers, solvents, etc.) which is used therapeutically to treat, cure, prevent or diagnose disease,

Question 4

Give three classifications of drugs

Answer 4

1. Molecular structure
2. Mode of action
3. Therapeutic use

Question 5

Give an example of a molecular structure name

Answer 5

Catecholamine

Question 6

Give an example of a mode of action name

Answer 6

Beta-blockers

Question 7

Give an example of a therapeutic use name

Answer 7

Antihypertensives

Question 8

Give three ways of naming drugs?

Answer 8

1. chemical name
2. generic name
3. proprietary name

Question 9

What is the difference between the generic name and the proprietary name for a drug?

Answer 9

The generic name always starts with a lowercase letter, a proprietary name is the trade name and always starts with a capital letter.

Question 10

What is toxicology?

Answer 10

The study of adverse effects of chemicals on living organisms

Question 11

What is pharmacy?

Answer 11

Patient-orientated health profession, licenced dispensing medicine, patient monitoring, medicine composition/manufacture.

Question 12

What are the two main branches of pharmacology?

Answer 12

1. Pharmacodynamics

2. Pharmacokinetics

Question 13

What is the difference between pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics?

Answer 13

Pharmacodynamics is what does a drug do to the body while pharmacokinetics is what does the body do to the drug?

Question 14

What does ADME stand for?

Answer 14

Absorption
Distribution
Metabolism
Excretion

Question 15

What does delivery of the drug include?

Answer 15

Absorption and distribution

Question 16

What does drug elimination include?

Answer 16

Metabolism and excretion of the drug

Question 17

What does ADME determine?

Answer 17

The concentration of the drug at the target site which effects the onset, intensity and duration of the drug’s action

Question 18

What are xenobiotics?

Answer 18

Drugs, drug metabolites and environmental compounds such as pollutants that are not produced by the body and are excreted

Question 19

What does distribution entail?

Answer 19

getting the drug from systemic circulation and into the tissues

Question 20

When does pharmacodynamics start?

Answer 20

When the drug reaches the site of action

Question 21

Where can the drug go once it is in circulation?

Answer 21

1. To be metabolised then excreted
2. Directly excreted
3. Into tissues

Question 22

What does absorption entail?

Answer 22

The movement of the drug from the site of administration to the systematic circulation (not to the site of action)

Question 23

What does ROA stand for?

Answer 23

Route of administration

Question 24

Give the names for two groups of drug administration

Answer 24

1. Enteral (via GI tract)

2. Parenteral

Question 25

Give 3 examples of enteral administration

Answer 25

1. Oral 2. Sublingual 3. Rectal

Question 26

Give 7 examples of parenteral administration

Answer 26

1. I.V 2. Subcutaneous 3. Intra muscular (I.M.) 4. Inhalation 5. Intranasal 6. Tropical 7. Transdermal

Question 27

What is different about enteral administration?

Answer 27

Drugs must cross a tight barrier composed of the epithelial cells of the gastrointestinal tract

Question 28

What is the only route of administration which has 100% bioavailability?

Answer 28

I.V.

Question 29

What is the rate-limiting step in taking oral drugs?

Answer 29

The dissolution rate

Question 30

Where are most oral drugs absorbed?

Answer 30

Via the small intestine so large quantities can be absorbed due to the large SA and good blood supply.

Question 31

What is the draw back of using oral drugs?

Answer 31

It is the most complicated route for a drug to take

Question 32

What 4 things must an oral drug do before it reaches the site of action?

Answer 32

1. Survive gastric acid 2. Survive digestive enzymes 3. Co-exist with or avoid food 4. Cope with gut bacteria

Question 33

Give an example of a drug hydrolysed by gastric acid

Answer 33

Benzylpenicillin (usually given via I.V.)

Question 34

Give a solution for oral drugs which can be hydrolysed by gastric acid

Answer 34

Enteric coat for protection

Question 35

Give an example of a drug which would not be absorbed in the presence of food

Answer 35

tetracycline antibiotics (bind to Ca+, become insoluble and are not absorbed)

Question 36

Give an example of a drug whose activity is altered by the presence of certain bacterial metabolites

Answer 36

Simvastatin (anti-hypolipidemic drug), sulphasalazine is cleaved into active anti-inflammatory components 5-ASA and sulphapyridine by colonic bacteria