Drugs and Pharmacology Overview
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Questions and Answers

What is one effect of ergot on the cardiovascular system?

  • Constriction of blood vessels (correct)
  • Reduction in blood pressure
  • Enhanced blood flow to limbs
  • Increased heart rate

Ergotamine is primarily used to treat migraines by dilating blood vessels in the head.

False (B)

What were midwives in the 16th century aware of regarding ergot?

It could be used to hasten labor.

The peyote cactus is known to contain the substance __________ which causes hallucinations.

<p>escaline</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a recognized pharmacological use of ergonovine?

<p>To stop uterine bleeding (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the following compounds to their uses:

<p>Ergotamine = Treatment of migraines Ergonovine = Control uterine bleeding Escaline = Psychedelic effects Ergot = Hasten childbirth</p> Signup and view all the answers

25% of drugs used today are derived from animal sources.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the historical significance of the 19th century in drug discovery?

<p>It was a time of chemical synthesis.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which factor does NOT influence the interpretation of phase 3 clinical trials?

<p>Marketability (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Patient compliance is measured solely by participant feedback.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of Health Canada in the drug approval process?

<p>Review the new drug application and trial results.</p> Signup and view all the answers

The __________ name is equivalent to the drug's chemical name.

<p>generic</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the following terms with their descriptions:

<p>Compliance = Actual drug intake by the patient Quality of Life = Impact of treatment on well-being Bioequivalence = Effectiveness compared to original drugs Phase IV trials = Post-market surveillance of medications</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the duration of the patent rights for a brand name drug?

<p>20 years (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Postmarket surveillance involves tracking the effects of drugs after they are approved.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Drug targets often include __________, which are regulatory molecules within the body.

<p>receptors</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of neurons?

<p>To transmit electrical signals (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Neurogenesis refers to the process of weakening existing neural connections.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What do dendrites do in a neuron?

<p>Receive incoming information</p> Signup and view all the answers

The junction between two neurons, where synaptic transmission occurs, is called a ______.

<p>synapse</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the neurotransmitter to its primary role:

<p>Glutamate = Primary excitatory neurotransmitter Serotonin = Involved in mood regulation Dopamine = Motivation and reward Norepinephrine = Excitation of cells</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which neurotransmitter is primarily associated with anxiety when hyperactive?

<p>Serotonin (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Neuroplasticity allows neurons to become fixed in their connections after development.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Endogenous chemicals that transmit signals between neurons are known as ______.

<p>neurotransmitters</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are agonists in relation to receptors?

<p>Drugs that bind to and stimulate a receptor (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Antagonists enhance the effect of endogenous ligands at receptors.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between drug dosage and pharmacological effects?

<p>The intensity of pharmacological effects increases in proportion to the dose.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Therapeutic doses are reached when __________ number of receptors are activated.

<p>sufficient</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the following drug types with their functions:

<p>Agonists = Stimulate receptor activity Antagonists = Block receptor response Cholestyramine = Binds to bile acids Antacids = Neutralize stomach acid</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following conditions is critical to consider when comparing cannabis to alcohol?

<p>Quantity consumed (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

A low dose of a drug will show a significant response due to the activation of many receptors.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What needs to be activated to observe an effect from a drug?

<p>A certain number of receptors</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of inclusion/exclusion criteria in a study?

<p>To define who can or cannot be included in the study population (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Randomization in a clinical trial ensures the control and experimental groups are treated the same.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of informed consent in clinical trials?

<p>To inform participants about the study's purpose, procedures, and potential risks and benefits.</p> Signup and view all the answers

In a clinical trial, the ______ group receives a placebo or gold standard treatment.

<p>control</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about the study population is true?

<p>It is a subset of the target population that meets specific criteria. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Informed consent documents must be written in complex scientific language.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the main goal of utilizing double-blind design in clinical studies?

<p>To eliminate biases by ensuring neither the investigator nor the subject knows the treatment assignment.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does a higher therapeutic index indicate about a drug?

<p>The drug is safer. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Drug-drug interactions can only occur during the metabolism phase of a drug's journey through the body.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the TD50 in the context of drug toxicity?

<p>The dose of a drug that is toxic in 50% of the population.</p> Signup and view all the answers

The region of the brain known for integrating memory, emotion, and reward is the ______.

<p>Limbic System</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an effect of consuming food containing tyramine while on an MAO inhibitor?

<p>High blood pressure. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Drugs only interact with other drugs, not with food.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are dopaminergic reward centers associated with?

<p>Addictions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Target Population

The group of people who are the intended users of a new drug.

Study Population

The subset of the target population that meets all the requirements to participate in a clinical trial.

Inclusion/Exclusion Criteria

Rules that determine who can and cannot participate in a clinical trial.

Double-Blind Design

A process where neither the researchers nor the participants know who is receiving the experimental treatment.

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Randomization (Treatment)

A method for assigning participants to treatment groups randomly, ensuring that known and unknown factors are distributed equally.

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Experimental Treatment Group

The group of participants in a clinical trial who receive the experimental treatment.

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Placebo

A substance that has no active ingredient and is used as a control in clinical trials.

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Gold Standard Drug

The best existing treatment for a specific disease at the time of the clinical trial. Used as a comparison point.

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Patient Compliance

The degree to which a patient follows their prescribed medication regimen.

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Compliance Measurement

Refers to how often the patient actually took the drug when they were supposed to.

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Quality of Life Assessment

Measures the impact of a drug or treatment on a person's overall well-being and ability to function in daily life.

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Statistical Analysis

Statistical methods used to compare the effectiveness of an experimental drug group to a control group.

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New Drug Application (NDA)

A formal application submitted by a drug manufacturer to a regulatory agency (like Health Canada) requesting approval to market a new drug.

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Generic Name

The chemical name of a drug, as opposed to its brand name.

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Brand Name

The unique name given to a drug by its manufacturer, often used as a marketing strategy.

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Bioequivalence Study

A study that compares the bioavailability of a generic drug to the original brand name version to ensure equal effectiveness.

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Ergot's Effect on Cardiovascular System

Ergot can cause blood vessels to constrict, leading to reduced blood flow to fingers, toes, and limbs, resulting in a burning sensation. In severe cases, limbs can turn black and die, potentially leading to amputation.

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Ergot's Effect on the Reproductive System

Ergot poisoning can cause intense contractions of the uterus, which can be dangerous, especially during pregnancy.

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Ergotamine: A Drug Derived from Ergot

Ergotamine is a drug derived from ergot and is used to treat migraines. It works by constricting blood vessels in the head, reducing blood flow and pressure.

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Ergonovine: Another Ergot-Derived Drug

Ergonovine, another ergot-derived medication, was once used to speed up childbirth but is no longer used due to its potentially dangerous effects. It can still be used to control uterine bleeding after delivery.

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Influence of Religion on Early Healing Practices

Traditional healers used to combine religious practices with healing, often using plant-based substances like peyote to induce altered states of consciousness and facilitate communication with deities.

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Peyote's Use in Ritual and Mysticism

Peyote, a cactus with hallucinogenic properties, was used by indigenous groups in Mexico to achieve a mystical state, connecting it to spiritual rituals.

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Plant-Based Drug Discovery

Many modern drugs are derived from plants. Scientists isolate active substances from plants and may further modify them to enhance effectiveness or reduce toxicity.

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Drug Discovery: From Plants to Chemical Synthesis

The 19th century saw a shift towards chemical synthesis in drug discovery, with many new medications being made in laboratories.

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Endogenous Ligands

Substances naturally found in the body, like hormones and neurotransmitters, that bind to and activate receptors.

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Agonists

Drugs that bind to and stimulate a receptor, mimicking the action of the natural ligand.

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Antagonists

Drugs that bind to but block the response of a receptor, preventing the natural ligand from activating it.

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Dose-Response Relationship

The relationship between the dose of a drug and the intensity of its effect.

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Threshold Dose

The minimum dose of a drug needed to produce a noticeable effect.

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Therapeutic Doses

The range of doses that produce the desired therapeutic effect without significant side effects.

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Dose-Response Curve

A graph that shows the relationship between the dose of a drug and the response observed.

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Drug Specificity

A drug's ability to reach and interact with its target in the body.

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What is a neuron?

The functional unit of the brain. It's a specialized cell responsible for generating and transmitting electrical signals throughout the nervous system.

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What are dendrites?

The branching extensions of a neuron that receive information from other neurons. They have receptors that bind to neurotransmitters, converting chemical signals into electrical ones.

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What is the cell body of a neuron?

The main body of a neuron containing the nucleus and other essential cellular structures. It also produces neurotransmitters, which are chemical messengers.

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What is an axon?

A long, slender projection of a neuron that carries electrical signals away from the cell body towards other neurons. It can be very long and is typically covered in a myelin sheath for faster signal transmission.

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What is a synapse?

The specialized junction between two neurons where information is passed from one neuron to the next. It's a tiny gap where neurotransmitters are released by the presynaptic neuron and bind to receptors on the postsynaptic neuron.

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What is synaptic transmission?

The process by which information is transmitted across a synapse. It involves the release of neurotransmitters from the presynaptic neuron, their diffusion across the synaptic cleft, and their binding to receptors on the postsynaptic neuron.

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What are neurotransmitters?

Chemicals that transmit signals across synapses. They are released by the pre-synaptic neuron and bind to receptors on the post-synaptic neuron, triggering a response.

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What is neurogenesis?

A process by which new neurons are generated. It occurs throughout life, particularly during childhood and adolescence.

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What is the therapeutic index?

A measure of drug safety. It calculates the ratio of the dose that produces a toxic effect in 50% of the population to the dose that produces a therapeutic effect in 50% of the population.

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What are drug-drug interactions?

When one drug alters the effects of another drug in the body. This can occur during absorption, metabolism, or excretion.

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How can tyramine affect patients on MAO inhibitors?

Tyramine is a compound found in certain foods, like aged cheese. When a patient is taking MAO inhibitors, a class of antidepressants, tyramine can lead to dangerously high blood pressure because it can't be broken down properly.

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How does grapefruit interact with drugs?

Grapefruit contains compounds that inhibit enzymes involved in drug metabolism. This can lead to higher blood levels of a drug, potentially causing adverse effects.

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What is the role of the Cerebral Cortex?

The largest part of the brain, the cerebral cortex is responsible for sensory and motor coordination, mental processes, and higher-level functions like memory and judgment. Its neurons are sensitive to the effects of drugs.

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What is the Limbic System?

The limbic system is a complex brain region involved in memory, emotion, and reward. It works closely with the hypothalamus to control emotions and behavior and plays a role in drug addiction.

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How does drug use affect the Cerebral Cortex?

Drugs can stimulate or inhibit neurons in the cerebral cortex, ultimately impacting brain activity and functions.

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How are the reward centers in the Limbic System involved in addiction?

The limbic system's reward centers, crucial for motivation and pleasure, are targeted by drugs of abuse, leading to addiction and compulsive drug seeking.

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How can drug effects differ in pregnant women?

The effects of drugs on pregnant women can be different and potentially more severe than in non-pregnant people.

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How can drug toxicity change over time?

A drug's toxicity may vary depending on the time period it's taken. This means that the effects of a drug could be different during pregnancy compared to other times in a person's life.

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Study Notes

Drugs and Pharmacology

  • Drugs are substances that affect biological functions, not just nutrition
  • Pharmacology is the science of drug use, effects, and actions

Introduction to Drug History

  • Humans have used drugs for a long time
  • Records from ancient China and Egypt show early drug use
  • Modern pharmacology has developed over 250 years, alongside advances in biological sciences

Historical Influences

  • Ancient civilizations, including Greece, Egypt, and China, laid the foundations for modern pharmacology
  • Their discoveries and methods of use have shaped the field

Ancient Greece (380 B.C.E)

  • Theophrastus, a student of Aristotle, wrote a book on therapeutics, including opium poppy.
  • Serturner (1803) isolated morphine from opium. He tested it on himself and others, noting its pain-relieving properties.

Ancient Egypt (1550 B.C.E)

  • The Ebers Papyrus, an ancient Egyptian medical text, described drug use.
  • This text contains observations on purgatives (drugs causing bowel movements), and Senna was noted as a common treatment.

Ancient China (2700 B.C.E)

  • Early drug experiments are documented from this ancient civilization.
  • Emperor Shen Ning categorized drugs by their taste.
  • Ma Huang (ephedrine) was used for coughs, influenza, and fevers and is still used today in many medicines.

Poisons as Drug Discoveries

  • Indigenous peoples and cultures used certain plant sources like curare as poisons, but also as medicines.
  • Examples like curare, a plant used by Indigenous peoples in South America for hunting, were later modified and used as a muscle relaxant in surgery.
  • Ergot, a fungus found on rye, can cause poisoning, and historical accidental inclusions in bread led to severe epidemics, but led to discovering the medicine potential for ergotamine for treating migraines.

Drug Use and Religious Influence

  • Early healers often used substances with spiritual or religious meanings, to treat illness
  • These substances are often part of healing and rituals and ceremonies, especially with plants and nature.
  • Peyote cactus use was linked to spiritual and ritualistic purposes, connected with the ability to achieve a mystical state. The psychoactive substance is a powerful hallucination producer for spiritual and healing practices.

Modern Drug Discovery

  • During the 19th to 20th centuries there was a major increase in chemical synthesis techniques which led to significant developments in drug discovery.
  • 25% of all drugs currently used come directly from plant substances
  • 19th century advances in chemical synthesis allowed the discovery and production of small molecule drugs.
  • Sulfa drugs and Penicillin were some of the earliest synthetic antibacterial drugs.
  • Chemicals like LSD have been found to potentially treat mental health illnesses, while the chemical structure is similar to drugs like Ergotamine and Ergonovine.

Drug Development and Trials

  • Drug development involves several key steps, including: Basic Research, Preclinical trials, and Clinical trials (Phase 1, 2 , and 3).
  • During preclinical trials and clinical trials a drug is tested in animals, then in humans, and if successful the drug can enter the manufacturing phase.
  • Results need a detailed assessment on safety and efficacy of the drug (compliance, quality of life) and statistics that show these results are valid.
  • Health Canada regulates processes and guidelines during development.

Drug Targets

  • Drugs typically act on specific targets (usually receptors) in the body.
  • Receptors are specialized protein structures or complexes that are part of biological regulation that react to endogenous ligands (chemicals produced within the body).
  • Drugs that work through these pathways are called agonists— these drugs enhance/increase the effect on a target.

Dose-Response Relationships

  • The intensity of drug effects is related to drug concentration
  • A dose-response curve shows how response is related to dose
  • The "therapeutic window" is the range of doses that produce a desired effect without causing unacceptable side effects.

Pharmacokinetics

  • Pharmacokinetics describes how drugs move through the body (absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion or ADME).
  • The body absorbs, distributes, metabolizes, and excretes drugs, altering their concentration and effectiveness.
  • Drug metabolism involves altering drugs to more easily be excreted, often in the liver.
  • There are many routes for administering drugs, including topical, intravenous (IV), or oral administration, each with different effects and absorption rates.

Drug Toxicity and Interactions

  • Drugs can have unwanted effects (toxicity), and interacting with other drugs can modify their actions
  • Multiple factors relate to the diversity of responses in drugs (i.e., genetics, age, metabolism, diseases, other concomitant medication)
  • Toxicity can occur when blood concentrations exceed therapeutic range.

Central Nervous System (CNS)

  • The CNS includes the brain and spinal cord
  • Neurotransmitters (e.g., GABA, glutamate, dopamine, serotonin) play crucial roles in CNS function
  • Drugs can affect neuronal function and synaptic transmission, influencing many biological pathways.

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Description

Explore the fascinating history of drugs and pharmacology, from ancient civilizations to modern practices. This quiz covers key developments in drug use, the contributions of historical figures, and the evolution of pharmacological science. Perfect for students interested in the intersection of history and medicine.

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