Lecture 01

Front 1

Pharmacology: What is it?

Back 1

It is the science of the interaction of chemicals within living systems at all levels.

Front 2

Pharmacokinetics: What is it?

Back 2

It is the study of the effects of the biological system on drugs (absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination). → AKA What the body is doing to the drug.

Front 3

Pharmacodynamics: What is it?

Back 3

It is the action of a drug on a physiological, biochemical, or molecular level. → AKA What the drug is doing to the body.

Front 4

Pharmacogenetics: What is it? What are some examples of a pharmacogenetic condition?

Back 4

It is the examination of the effects of genetic factors to variations in a drug response.

Asian flush is a polymorphism in the aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) enzyme that modifies the digestion of ethanol where acetaldehyde accumulates in the body, resulting in a red face and nausea.

Some caucasians have a polymorphism for the Cyp2d gene that codes for the P450 enzyme that renders the Cyp2d enzyme inactive (enzyme breaks down codeine to make morphine which then has the pain relieving effects), leading to Codeine resistance.

Front 5

Toxicology: What is it? What is the difference between a poison and a venom?

Back 5

It is the study of undesirable effects of chemicals on living systems that includes poisons, antidotes, and undesired side effects of drugs.

A poison is a longer term toxin that can be introduced anywhere in the body to have toxic effects whereas a venom’s toxic effects require injection into the bloodstream.

Front 6

Pharmacy: What is it?

Back 6

It is the art of preparing, compounding, and dispensing chemicals for medicinal use.

Front 7

Drug Classes: What are the three major drug groups?

Back 7

They include prophylactic, palliative, and therapeutic drugs.

Front 8

Prophylactic Drugs: What are they? What is an example?

Back 8

They are drugs aimed to prevent a disease. An example is a vaccine.

Front 9

Palliative Drugs: What are they? What is an example?

Back 9

They are drugs aimed to relieve symptoms (does not cure a disease). Examples include medicine that relieves symptoms of high blood pressure.

Front 10

Therapeutic Drugs: What are they? What are examples?

Back 10

They are drugs aimed to cure a disease. Examples include antibiotics, antifungals, and anticancer drugs.

Front 11

Tolerance: What is it? What is the difference b/w tolerance and addiction?

Back 11

It is the increased resistance to a particular dose of a particular drug. Higher doses are needed to get the same “high” or effect since the body adjusts to the presence of an amount of a drug.

When people develop tolerance to a drug, they do not suffer withdrawal symptoms when they are taken off the drug (unlike addiction).

Front 12

Effective Dose (ED50): What is it?

Back 12

It is the concentration of a drug by which 50% of subjects show a predefined response.

Front 13

Lethal Dose (LD50): What is it?

Back 13

It is the concentration of a drug by which 50% of individuals would die from.

Front 14

Efficacy: What is it?

Back 14

It is the ability of a drug to produce a desired effect.

Front 15

Potency: What is it?

Back 15

It is the effectiveness (strength) of a drug to produce a desired effect.

Front 16

History of Pharmacology: What were the initial origins of medicine? How did this progress over time? What did recombinant DNA technology allow? What were the major advantages in safe use of naturally derived agents? What did this allow?

Back 16

Initially most medicines were of botanical or zoological origin, but by the 1950s, humans were making compounds not found in nature from advances in organic and synthetic chemistry.

Recombinant DNA technology allows molecules to be made of human origin (ex: insulin from pigs vs. insulin from humans).

By the end of the 19th century, there was a major advance in safe use of naturally derived agents by isolating the desired compound, purifying it, and chemically characterizing it.

This allowed administration of a controlled dose, administration of that compound alone, and definition of the mechanism of action of that compound, leading to synthesis of improved agents (with greater selectivity, potency, altered duration of action, etc.).

Front 17

Foxglove: What is this plant? Is it important where it is grown?

Back 17

It is a plant that kills children every year through cardiac glycosides that stimulate stronger contractions in the heart that (with a strong dose) can lead to heart muscle cramps that will lead to cardiac arrest. The content of its poison can vary tenfold whether it grows in shade or bright sunshine.

Front 18

Homeopathy: What is it? Who founded it? How do you obtain stronger doses of a remedy according to homeopathy? Is it a valid form of medicine?

Back 18

It is a form of pharmacology (likes cures likes) founded by a doctor, Samual Hahnemann, whose core principle states that ingesting a chemical that produces the same symptoms as the disease desired to be cured will treat the disease. A remedy becomes stronger as you dilute it. The dose is strongest when it is most diluted. There is no scientific proof that it works and no proof that it doesn’t.