MK - Intro to Pharmacology I Flashcards
What is Pharmacology?
Chemically interfering with cellular/biological systems to enhance, modify or block their activity
What are the 4 different types of drug compounds?
Endogenous ligands
- Hormones
Natural compounds
- Atropine, penicillin
Synthetic compounds
- Salbutamol, propranolol
Semisynthetic compounds
- Ampicillin
Pharmodynamics vs Pharmokinetics
Pharmodynamics
- What the drug does to the body (Drug action)
Pharmokinetics
- What the body does to the drug (Drug handling)
What did sick patients rely on before the mid-19th century?
Herbal remedies
- Bark of white willow tree used intermittently for pain and inflammation
What were some problems with willow bark preparations and purified salicylic acid
Problems with willow bark preparations:
- Varied hugely in amounts of salicylate
- Hundreds of unwanted contaminants
Problems with purified salicylic acid:
- Not very effective
- Toxic, unpalatable, poorly-tolerated (nausea)
What are the 4 main roles of pharmalogical agents?
1) Reversible blockade for physiological responses
- Muscle relaxants, oral contraceptives
2) Regulation of normal physiological responses
Neurotransmitter and disease
- Parkinson’s disease (low dopamine)
- Depression (low noradrenaline)
Acid secretion
3) Supplementation of normal physiological processes
4) Elimination of non-self
- Antibacterials, antivirals, anticancer
Why are Log dose-response curves used? (5)
- Related compounds give parallel curves
- Potencies are easily determined
- Linear between 20% - 80% of maximum response
- Easily displays the entire concentration range
- Effects of antagonists are easily shown
What is potency and efficacy?
Potency- The concentration required to give a response
Efficacy- How big the response is
Agonist vs Antagonist
Agonist- Produces a response
Antagonist- Blocks a response
Which way do competitive antagonists shift the dose-response curve?
Parallel shift to the right
