Pharmacology Overview

Question 1

What is pharmacodynamics?

Answer 1

The effects that drugs have on the body

Question 2

What is pharmacokinetics?

Answer 2

The effects that the body has on the drug (absorption, distribution, elimination)

Question 3

What is an agonist

Answer 3

Chemicals that activate a receptor and produce a response

Question 4

What is an antagonist?

Answer 4

Chemical that binds to a receptor but does not produce a response

Question 5

Give an example of an antagonist and how does it work?

Answer 5

Narcan blocks receptor so opioids can’t bind

Question 6

What is a partial agonist?

Answer 6

Drug that binds to and activates a given receptor but have only partial efficacy at the receptor relative to a full agonist.

Question 7

What is absorption?

Answer 7

Movement of the drug from site of administration to the blood circulation

Question 8

What is first-pass metabolism?

Answer 8

Potentially harmful chemicals pass via the portal vein to the liver, where they are chemically altered.

Question 9

Why might certain drugs administered by injection or in high doses?

Answer 9

To avoid breakdown in first-pass metabolism.

Question 10

What are the two main types administration routes for drugs?

Answer 10

Enteral and parenteral

Question 11

Give examples of enteral administration routes.

Answer 11

Oral
Sublingual
Rectal

Question 12

Give examples of parenteral administration routes.

Answer 12

Intravenous
Intramuscular
Subcutaneous

Question 13

What are two additional routes of administration besides enteral and parenteral?

Answer 13

Inhalation
Topical

Question 14

What is the most rapid and accurate method of drug administration?

Answer 14

IV injection

Question 15

What is a drawback of IV admin?

Answer 15

Very quick onset of drug, little time to correct and overdose or allergic reaction

Question 16

How is IM injection different from IV?

Answer 16

slower, more even absorption over a period of time.

Question 17

How can absorption of IM injections be slowed?

Answer 17

Combining drug with a drug that constricts blood vessels or with vegetable oils

Question 18

What is absorption like for drugs administered through SC injection?

Answer 18

slow but variable

Question 19

How is absorption effected by inhalation

Answer 19

Rapid, making drug effect rapid

Question 20

Why is absorption rapid for inhalation?

Answer 20

Lungs have large surface area and many capillaries

Question 21

What are the benefits of sublingual drug admin?

Answer 21

drug avoids gastric acid, enzymes, first-pass metabolism.

Question 22

Give an example of when it might be a good idea to use a sublingual drug.

Answer 22

Person is vomiting

Question 23

What are benefits of intranasal admin?

Answer 23

avoids first-pass metabolism, and bypasses the blood-brain barrier, allowing high brain concentrations

Question 24

How does rectal admin interact with first-pass metabolism

Answer 24

may be avoided depending on placement

Question 25

When is rectal administration beneficial

Answer 25

Infants or patients who are vomiting, unconscious or unable to take medication orally.

Question 26

What is drug action?

Answer 26

Molecular changes produced by a drug when it binds to a target site or receptor.

Question 27

What is drug effect?

Answer 27

Alteration in physiological or psychological functions

Question 28

What is elimination rate?

Answer 28

Amount of time it takes for the drug to be eliminated from the body.

Question 29

What term is elimination rate often described in?

Answer 29

Half-life

Question 30

What is the general rule of thumb for half-lifes?

Answer 30

Takes 5 half-lifes for a drug to be eliminated

Question 31

What is tolerance?

Answer 31

An individual's reduced response to a drug following its repeated use.

Question 32

What is metabolic tolerance?

Answer 32

Increased rate of metabolism leads to reduced drug concentration, therefore reduced response.

Question 33

What pharmacodynamic tolerance?

Answer 33

Change of receptors, e.g., downregulation

Question 34

What behavioural tolerance?

Answer 34

Tolerance occurs in the same environment in which the drug was used but not noticeable in a novel environment.

Question 35

What is state-dependent learning

Answer 35

Tasks learned under the influence of psychoactive drugs may subsequently be performed better in a drugged state than drug free.

Question 36

What are the different type of drug names?

Answer 36

Chemical name General name Brand name Street name

Question 37

Where can you find information about drugs.

Answer 37

Peer review literature Manufacturers info (e.g., drug monographs) Websites for drug users (Erowid)