Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is pharmacology primarily concerned with?
What is pharmacology primarily concerned with?
Which ancient civilization is credited with the earliest recorded drug experiments?
Which ancient civilization is credited with the earliest recorded drug experiments?
What substance was isolated from Ma Huang and has been used to treat asthma?
What substance was isolated from Ma Huang and has been used to treat asthma?
Which of the following drugs was discovered by Alexander Fleming?
Which of the following drugs was discovered by Alexander Fleming?
Signup and view all the answers
What was the purpose of the Ebers Papyrus in ancient Egypt?
What was the purpose of the Ebers Papyrus in ancient Egypt?
Signup and view all the answers
Which ancient philosopher wrote about opium and its therapeutic uses around 380 B?
Which ancient philosopher wrote about opium and its therapeutic uses around 380 B?
Signup and view all the answers
Curare is known primarily for its use as what?
Curare is known primarily for its use as what?
Signup and view all the answers
What did Serturner discover when isolating morphine from opium?
What did Serturner discover when isolating morphine from opium?
Signup and view all the answers
In terms of drug use, how did ancient medicine men typically combine therapy?
In terms of drug use, how did ancient medicine men typically combine therapy?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following substances is derived from the Peyote cactus?
Which of the following substances is derived from the Peyote cactus?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the primary purpose of toxicology studies in drug development?
What is the primary purpose of toxicology studies in drug development?
Signup and view all the answers
Which term best describes the range of doses that ensures a drug remains effective without becoming toxic?
Which term best describes the range of doses that ensures a drug remains effective without becoming toxic?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the main difference between Phase 1 and Phase 2 drug metabolism?
What is the main difference between Phase 1 and Phase 2 drug metabolism?
Signup and view all the answers
Which organ is NOT involved in drug excretion?
Which organ is NOT involved in drug excretion?
Signup and view all the answers
What is considered more clinically significant than potency when selecting a drug for treatment?
What is considered more clinically significant than potency when selecting a drug for treatment?
Signup and view all the answers
Which term refers to the movement of a drug from its site of administration into the bloodstream?
Which term refers to the movement of a drug from its site of administration into the bloodstream?
Signup and view all the answers
What role do receptors play in drug action?
What role do receptors play in drug action?
Signup and view all the answers
What physiological aspect can cause variations in individual drug response?
What physiological aspect can cause variations in individual drug response?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the function of the cerebellum in the brain?
What is the function of the cerebellum in the brain?
Signup and view all the answers
What is neuroplasticity?
What is neuroplasticity?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following best describes drug-drug interactions?
Which of the following best describes drug-drug interactions?
Signup and view all the answers
Which part of the nervous system is primarily responsible for reflex actions?
Which part of the nervous system is primarily responsible for reflex actions?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the main role of neurotransmitters?
What is the main role of neurotransmitters?
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
Module 1: History of Drug Use and Development
- Humans have used drugs since before recorded history.
- Most clinically useful drugs were developed over the past 250 years, thanks to advances in experimental biological sciences (including pharmacology).
- Drug definition: Any substance received by a biological system not for nutritive purposes, influencing the organism's biological function. Chemicals, biological agents, and herbal products are considered drugs.
- Pharmacology definition: The science of drugs, including their uses, effects, and modes of action.
Historical Influences
- Ancient China: Earliest recorded drug experiments (2700 BCE). Emperor Shen Nung classified drugs by taste. Ma Huang, a "medium drug," was used for coughs, influenza, and fevers. Ephedrine, isolated from Ma Huang, treats asthma and a derivative is a decongestant.
- Ancient Egypt: Ebers Papyrus (1550 BCE) offered a textbook on drug use. Included observations on purgatives (drugs causing bowel movements), like senna, which is still used today.
- Ancient Greece: Theophrastus (380 BCE) wrote a therapeutic textbook including opium, a poppy extract containing morphine (1803 isolation by Serturner).
- Ancient Rome: Zinc oxide was a significant topical therapy ingredient.
- Influence of Religion: Medicine men, acting as both physicians and priests, used plant-based intoxicants to alter consciousness and connect with deities. Examples include mescaline from Peyote cactus, inducing hallucinations.
- Influence of Poisons: Paracelsus's quote: "The right dose differentiates a poison and a remedy."
- Nitrous Oxide, Ether, Organoarsenicals, Sulfa Drugs, Penicillin, Streptomycin: Landmark discoveries with important therapeutic applications.
Module 1: Drug Development, Drug Trials, and Drug Advertising
- Two types of preclinical studies:
- Toxicology studies: Assess the impact of a new drug on non-target organ systems. All drugs have some toxicity at some dose in some people. It can take up to 6 years.
Module 1: Drug Action
Drug Targets
-
Most common drug target: Receptors
-
Receptors: Molecules or complexes located inside or outside cells, regulating homeostasis. Typically bound by endogenous ligands (hormones, neurotransmitters).
-
Receptor location influences drug action and response.
-
Other targets: Antacids (acid-base neutralization).
Efficacy and Potency
- Clinically, efficacy is prioritized over potency.
- Maximal effectiveness of a drug is a key factor in choosing treatments.
Therapeutic Range
- Therapeutic range: Doses maintaining drug blood concentration above the minimal effective level but below toxic concentration.
Module 1: Pharmacokinetics
- Pharmacokinetics: The movement of a drug into, through, and out of the body.
- Four major pharmacokinetic processes: Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion.
Absorption
- Absorption: Drug movement from administration site to blood.
Distribution/Redistribution
- Distribution: Drug movement from blood to action site and other tissues.
- Blood flow to an organ affects drug speed to the organ.
- Can lead to reduced therapeutic effects.
Metabolism
-
Drug metabolism: Drug conversion to a different compound.
-
Drug elimination from the body involves getting converted to more water soluble compounds.
-
Phase 1 reactions: Add or reveal a functional group, preparing for Phase 2
-
Phase 2 reactions add large, water-soluble molecules, making them excretable by kidneys.
Excretion
- Excreting organs: Kidneys, gastrointestinal tract, lungs, breast milk, saliva, sweat.
Variation in Drug Response
- Drug dosage adjustments are common to fit individual responses.
- Factors influencing responses: Genetic factors, environmental factors, other diseases, and altered psychological states (most commonly age and pregnancy).
- Therapeutic index: A measure of drug safety (higher index = safer).
Drug-Drug Interactions
- Interactions can occur at different stages of pharmacokinetics.
Module 2: Physiological and Pharmacological Aspects of the Central Nervous System
- Basic nervous system functions:
- Recognize: Identify internal/external changes.
- Process/integrate: Perceive changes, integrate information.
- React: Initiate responses and actions.
- Two divisions of the nervous system: Central and Peripheral.
Central Nervous System
-
Contains brain and spinal cord which perform the listed functions.
-
Brain: Receives, processes information, initiates response, stores memories, generates thought/emotion.
-
Spinal Cord: Carries sensory information, controls motor outflow, controls sensory input, controls reflex activity.
-
Main parts of the brain: Forebrain, midbrain, hindbrain.
Forebrain
- Parts of Forebrain: Dopaminergic reward centers, Pituitary (gland secreting hormones regulating growth, behavior, and metabolism).
Midbrain
- Links forebrain and hindbrain, relay center for visual and auditory stimuli.
Hindbrain
- Parts of the Hindbrain: Pons (connects midbrain and medulla/cerebellum), Medulla (regulates respiration, heart rate, blood pressure), Cerebellum (coordination and posture).
Neurons
-
Functional unit of the brain, generating and transmitting electrical signals.
-
Estimated 90 billion neurons in the brain.
-
Neurogenesis: New neuron generation.
-
Neuroplasticity: Constant reshaping of neuronal connections.
-
Neuron parts: Cell body (nucleus, cytoplasm), dendrites (receiving antennae), axon (carries information to synapses).
Synaptic Transmission
- The signal passage from one neuron to another, usually chemical. Neurotransmitters are required to transmit signals.
Neurotransmitters and Receptors
- Neurotransmitters are endogenous chemicals that transmit signals between neurons.
- Examples: Glutamate.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Description
Explore the fascinating history of drug use and development throughout human civilization. This quiz covers early drug experimentation, significant contributions from ancient cultures, and the evolution of pharmacology over the last 250 years. Test your knowledge on how ancient practices have shaped modern medicine.
