TOPIC 4 & 5 Pharmacology

Question 1

What is Pharmacokinetics?

Answer 1

Kin - can it get there?

The study of absorption, distribution,
metabolism and excretion of the drug (ADME)

Question 2

What is Pharmacodynamics?

Answer 2

Dynamics - does it bind?
The study of the mechanism of action of drugs.

Question 3

What are the 4 different targets of drugs?

Answer 3

RITE target?

1. Receptors
2. Ion Channels
3. Transport molecules
4. Enzymes

Question 4

What effect does an Agonist produce?

Answer 4

A similar effect to the natural compound

Question 5

What effect does an Antagonist produce?

Answer 5

No effect, or the blocking of the natural compund

Question 6

What is drug Affinity?

Answer 6

How strongly the drug wants to interact with its receptor.

Question 7

What is drug Selectivity?

Answer 7

The degree to which a drug “prefers” binding to one receptor over another receptor

Question 8

The readiness with which a drug binds to its receptor is its:

Answer 8

affinity

Question 9

The sub-lingual route of administration is mainly used for:

Answer 9

Drugs that are extensively metabolised on their first pass through the liver

Question 10

The therapeutic range or therapeutic index of a drug is:

Answer 10

the range of concentrations between the minimum effective dose and a toxic dose of the drug

Question 11

A drug which is water soluble and has a site of action of the systemic circulation would be best administered by which route?

Answer 11

intravenous

Question 12

A component of grapefruit juice has been identified as affecting some important liver enzymes involved in drug metabolism. It is known that grapefruit juice interacts with a whole range of drug classes. When this interaction occurs, what is the most common result?

Answer 12

An increase in the blood levels of the drug, due to lower metabolism as a result of the grapefruit juice.

Question 13

Whatis the purpose of the vasoconstrictor with a local anaesthetic?

Answer 13

To help numb the area by reducing the blood flow to it

Question 14

A sustained stimulation of receptors on a cell by an agonist will often result in….
Give an example of this.

Answer 14

Downregulation of receptors.

Taking the same antihistamines continuously will reduce the effectiveness. If you switch or take a break, it may be more effective.

Question 15

Drugs are absorbed best from the small intestine when they are:

Answer 15

small and fat soluble

Question 16

Drugs are metabolised by the liver in order to make them:
a. less toxic
b. less potent
c. more water soluble
d. more fat soluble

Answer 16

c. more water soluble

Question 17

Drugs are often bound to plasma proteins in the bloodstream. Which plasma protein would bind the greatest amount of drug?

Answer 17

albumin

Question 18

If a drug was required to produce an immediate systemic effect, which would be the best administration route to use?

Answer 18

Intravenous

Question 19

On which types of proteins do drugs act?
a. Transport molecules and enzymes
b. Receptors for hormones & neurotransmitters
c. Ion channels
d. All of these

Answer 19

d. All of these

Question 20

True or false

Pharmacodynamics is the study of the absorption, distribution and fate of drugs in the body.

Answer 20

False

Question 21

True or false

Pharmacokinetics is the study of the absorption, distribution and fate of drugs in the body.

Answer 21

True

Question 22

True or false

Pharmacokinetics is the study of the study of the mechanism of action of drugs.

Answer 22

False

Question 23

True or false

Pharmacodynamics is the study of the study of the mechanism of action of drugs.

Answer 23

True

Question 24

What affects the bioavailability of an orally administered drug?

Answer 24

The lipid solubility of the drug.
The stability of the drug in the gastrointestinal tract.
The degree of first-pass metabolism.

Question 25

What affects the distribution of a drug within the body?

Answer 25

The degree of plasma binding of the drug.
The lipid solubility of the drug.
The size of the drug molecule.

Question 26

Why is it important to assess the number of medications an elderly client is taking?

Answer 26

• to minimise drug interactions
• to minimise adverse drug reactions
• because the person may be seeing a number of doctors who do not communicate with each other about the drugs they have prescribed

Question 27

What is an agonist?

Answer 27

It will mimic the body’s natural receptor

Question 28

What will an antagonist do?

Answer 28

It will block/inhibit/stop the body’s natural receptor