Introduction to Pharmacology

Question 1

Define a drug

Answer 1

An external substance that acts on living tissue to produce a change in function of that tissue

Question 2

List drugs used in dentistry (4)

Answer 2

1. LA
2. Antimicrobials
3. Anxiolytics
4. Analgesics

Question 3

Function of LA

Answer 3

Prevent pain

Question 4

Function of antimicrobials

Answer 4

Treat and prevent infections

Question 5

Function of anxiolytics

Answer 5

Reduce anxiety

Question 6

Function of analgesics

Answer 6

Reduce postoperative pain

Question 7

Functions of drugs (3)

Answer 7

1. Stimulate normal body communications
2. Interrupt normal body communications
3. Act on non-host organisms to aid body defences

Question 8

The difference between hormone and neural messages (2)

Answer 8

HORMONE
- General info to all tissues

NEURAL
- Targeted information for specific tissues

Question 9

List examples of hormones (4)

Answer 9

1. Thyroid hormones
2. Insulin
3. Cortisol
4. Sex hormones

Question 10

Function of thyroid hormones

Answer 10

Balance the body metabolism
Hyperthyroidism - too much
Hypothyroidism - too little

Question 11

Symptoms of hypothyroidism (4)

Answer 11

Cold intolerant
Slow mentation
Hair loss
Slow pulse + low BP

Question 12

Function of a thyroxine tablet

Answer 12

Replace the missing T3 and T4

Question 13

Where does the thyroxine tablet act

Answer 13

Directly on the tissues - no direct effect on the thyroid gland

Question 14

What are the 2 modes of nerve communication?

Answer 14

ANS:

• Sympathetic
• Adrenaline

Parasympathetic:
- Acetylcholine

Question 15

What are the 2 ways HR is controlled?

Answer 15

1. Sympathetic
   - Adrenergic stimulation
2. Parasympathetic
   - Cholinergic stimulation

Question 16

How does adrenergic stimulation control the HR?

Answer 16

Speeds up the heart via beta-receptors

Question 17

How does cholinergic stimulation control the HR?

Answer 17

Slows the heart via cholinergic receptors

Question 18

How can dry mouth be caused by acetylcholine blockers

Answer 18

ACh blocker prevents the parasympathetic nervous system from producing saliva

Question 19

List examples of Autonomic drugs (4)

Answer 19

1. Adrenaline (beta-agonist)
2. Atenolol (beta-blocker)
3. Pilocarpine (cholinergic agonist)
4. Atropine (cholinergic blocker)

Question 20

List ways drugs interact with tissues (3)

Answer 20

1. Receptors
2. Enzymes
3. Ion channels

Question 21

List examples that receptors are coupled with to enhance their response (4)

Answer 21

Coupled to:

1. Ion Channels
2. G-Proteins
3. Enzymes
4. Gene transcription

Question 22

What component make up the drug-receptor interactions? (2)

Answer 22

1. Drug receptor interactions

2. Drug induced response

Question 23

What do the drug-receptor interactions depend on? (2)

Answer 23

1. Affinity (attraction)

2. Occupancy (how much time it takes to bind)

Question 24

What does the drug induced response depend on?

Answer 24

Efficacy (how much of a response it produces)

Question 25

Define a partial agonist

Answer 25

Agonist that produces less than 100% of a response So more difficult to produce the drug/receptor effect than with an agonist

Question 26

How can the efficacy of a partial agonist be improved?

Answer 26

Increase partial agonist concentration

Question 27

State the 2 types of antagonists

Answer 27

1. Competitive | 2. Non-competitive

Question 28

What does a competitive antagonist result in?

Answer 28

No signal

Question 29

What does a non-competitive antagonist result in?

Answer 29

Partial signal

Question 30

Function + example of an irreversible antagonist

Answer 30

Binds and reduces available receptors for the agonist Phenoxybenzamine (A1 blocker)

Question 31

How can the effects of a reversible antagonist be overcome?

Answer 31

Increasing the concentration of the agonist

Question 32

List some effects of enzymes (3)

Answer 32

1. Substrate antagonism 2. Reversible enzyme modification 3. Irreversible modification

Question 33

Function of ion channels

Answer 33

Disrupt cell ion balance

Question 34

List some effects of ion channels

Answer 34

1. Electrical Activity | 2. Ion influx

Question 35

List examples of ion channels (2)

Answer 35

1. LA | 2. Anti-diabetic drugs

Question 36

How does a local anaesthetic affect the nervous system? (2)

Answer 36

- Changes Na+ and K+ flow to stop patient noticing pain | - Blocks somatic nerve but not autonomic (alters sympathetic NS so changes HR)

Question 37

What factors affect efficacy of a drug? (2)

Answer 37

Occupancy | Affinity