Pharmacology Flashcards
What is pharmacology?
study of how chemical agents can influence the function of living systems
What is a drug?
chemical substance that interacts with a specific target within a biological system to produce a physiological effect
What 3 questions need to be asked when talking about how drugs produce an effect?
→ Where is the effect produced?
→ What is the target for the drug?
→ What is the response produced after interaction with this target?
What is the main target for drugs?
Proteins!
What 4 types of proteins are the main targets for drugs?
→ Receptors
→ Enzymes
→ Transport proteins
→ Ion channels
What 2 responses can drugs elicit when interacting with a target?
- Enhance activation (stimulate an effect)
* Prevent activation (block an effect from being produced)
What must a drug do to be an effective therapeutic agent?
must show a high degree of selectivity for a particular drug target
Why might selectivity be more important for drugs than endogenous compounds like dopamine?
Method of delivery ( oral or IV ) means drug has access to bloodstream and therefore all other organs - can cause adverse side effects
What is a side effect?
Effect produced by a drug that is secondary to the intended effect
What is the difference between side effect and adverse effect?
Adverse effect = side effect with negative health consequences
What are the 3 causes of side effects?
Due to drug action:
a) on other targets in the same tissue or other tissues
b) on the same target in other tissues
c) dependent on the dose of drug administered
What makes a drug the “safest”?
large difference between the dose required to induce the desired effect + the dose required to induce side/adverse effects
