1 Foundations of Pharmacology and Therapeutic Effects Free Online FlashCards

How do pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics differ?

Pharmacokinetics describes what the body does to a drug; pharmacodynamics describes what the drug does to the body.

What processes make up ADME?

ADME stands for absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion.

What is drug absorption?

Absorption is the movement of a drug from its administration site into systemic circulation.

What is bioavailability, and how can first-pass metabolism affect it?

Bioavailability is the fraction of a dose that reaches systemic circulation unchanged. First-pass metabolism in the gut or liver can reduce the amount of an oral drug that gets there.

What is drug distribution, and how does protein binding affect it?

Distribution is the movement of a drug from blood into tissues and fluids. Unbound drug is generally more available to enter tissues and interact with targets.

How can metabolism activate a prodrug?

Metabolism chemically changes a drug, often in the liver. For a prodrug, this process produces the active form.

How can reduced kidney function affect a drug cleared in urine?

Excretion removes drugs and metabolites from the body; the kidneys are a major route. Reduced kidney function can slow clearance and allow a drug cleared in urine to accumulate.

What does an agonist do at a receptor?

An agonist activates a receptor.

What does an antagonist do at a receptor?

An antagonist binds and blocks or reduces receptor activation by another substance.

How is an allergic reaction different from other adverse drug effects?

An adverse drug reaction is a harmful or unwanted response at usual doses. An allergic reaction is an immune response, distinct from predictable effects of a drug's pharmacology.

What does drug potency describe?

Potency describes how much drug is needed to produce an effect. Greater potency does not necessarily mean greater effectiveness or safety.

What does drug efficacy describe?

Efficacy is the maximum effect a drug can produce.