Session 1

Question 1

When should drugs be reported on a yellow card?

Answer 1

All reactions to black triangle drugs (new)
All peadiatric reactions
All serious complications (prolonging hospital stay) of established products

Question 2

Define pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics

Answer 2

Pharmacokinetics - movement of drug in/out of the body (what body does to drug)
Pharmacodynamics - mechanism of action (what drug does to body)

Question 3

What are the 4 steps in the pharmacokinetic process?

Answer 3

Absorption - bioavailability, first pass metabolism
Distribution - protein binding, volume of distribution
Metabolism
Elimination

Question 4

What is the bioavailability (F) of a drug and how is it calclated?

Answer 4

The fraction of a drug that finds its way into the circulation. Two graphs of plasma concentration against time are plotted for oral and IV (100%) routes. F=AUC oral/ AUC IV

Question 5

What factors affect bioavailability?

Answer 5

Absorption - age, vomiting, malabsorption

First pass metabolism

Question 6

What is the first pass metabolism?

Answer 6

Any metabolism occuring before the drug enters the systemic circulation. Occurs in the gut lumen, gut wall and liver

Question 7

What factors can affect drug protein binding?

Answer 7

Hypoalbuminaemia, pregnancy, renal failure, displacement by other drugs

Question 8

When is a change is the protein binding of a drug significant?

Answer 8

If the drug has high protein binding, low Vd and narrow therapeutic window

Question 9

What factors can influence the activity of cytochrome P450 enzymes (phase 1 metabolism)?

Answer 9

Enzyme inducing/inhibiting drugs (alter rate of metabolism of other drugs), age, liver disease, cigarettes, alcohol

Question 10

Why would a drug need to be monitored?

Answer 10

Zero order kinetics, long half life, narrow therapeutic window, at increased risk of drug-drug interactions