Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics Overview
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Questions and Answers

What is pharmacokinetics?

The study of drug movement throughout the body.

Which of the following are the four basic pharmacokinetic processes?

  • Digestion
  • Excretion (correct)
  • Absorption (correct)
  • Metabolism (correct)

    • Elimination is the combination of metabolism and absorption.

    False

    What must drugs do to cross membranes?

    <p>Drugs must pass through cells.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which method is the most common for drugs to cross cell membranes?

    <p>Direct penetration</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a common characteristic of lipid-soluble drugs?

    <p>They can readily cross the membranes.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does pH partitioning refer to?

    <p>The accumulation of drugs on the side of a membrane where pH favors their ionization.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which factors influence the rate of drug absorption?

    <p>All of the above</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the blood-brain barrier (BBB)?

    <p>The anatomy of capillaries in the central nervous system that prevents drug passage.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The placental barrier completely prevents drug transfer to the fetus.

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

    What is the most important protein with which drugs can bind in the body?

    <p>Plasma albumin</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which protein is the most prevalent in plasma and the most important for drug binding?

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

    Only bound drug molecules can leave the vascular system.

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

    What percentage of warfarin molecules are typically bound to albumin?

    <p>99%</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term used for the enzymatic alteration of drug structure?

    <p>Drug metabolism</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following represents a possible consequence of drug metabolism?

    <p>Increased toxicity</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The process by which drugs are transported back to the liver from the intestine is known as ______.

    <p>enterohepatic recirculation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What term describes the inactivation of drugs on their first pass through the liver?

    <p>First-pass effect</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role do hepatic drug-metabolizing enzymes play in drug therapy?

    <p>They influence the rate of drug elimination.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the consequence of decreased renal function on drug responses?

    <p>Increased duration and intensity of drug responses</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Drugs that increase the rate of drug metabolism are known as ______.

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

    What is the term for drug concentrations in the plasma below which therapeutic effects will not occur?

    <p>Minimum effective concentration</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What defines the therapeutic range?

    <p>The therapeutic range is defined as the plasma drug levels falling between the MEC and the toxic concentration.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Drugs with a narrow therapeutic range are easier to use safely.

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

    What is drug half-life?

    <p>Drug half-life is the time required for the amount of drug in the body to decrease by 50%.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What happens to drug levels after a single dose over time?

    <p>Drug levels rise after absorption.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How long does it take to reach plateau with repeated dosing?

    <p>It takes approximately four half-lives to reach plateau.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following terms with their definitions:

    <p>MEC = Minimum effective concentration of a drug Therapeutic Index = Quantification of the therapeutic range Maximal Efficacy = Largest effect that a drug can produce Potency = Amount of drug needed to elicit an effect</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The time required to reach plateau is affected by dosage size.

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

    What causes fluctuations in drug levels during repeated dosing?

    <p>Both A and B.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a loading dose?

    <p>A loading dose is a large initial dose given to rapidly achieve desired drug levels.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the relationship between potency and efficacy?

    <p>Potency refers to the amount of drug needed to elicit an effect, while efficacy refers to the maximal effect a drug can produce.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are receptors in the context of drug action?

    <p>Functional macromolecules in a cell that bind to drugs to produce effects.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Drugs can give cells new functions that they are not already capable of doing.

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

    What is selectivity in drug action?

    <p>The ability to elicit only the response for which a drug is given</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What happens when a drug binds to receptors?

    <p>It can mimic or block the actions of endogenous regulatory molecules.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is affinity in terms of drug-receptor interaction?

    <p>The strength of attraction between a drug and its receptor.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What defines agonists?

    <p>Drugs that activate receptors by mimicking the actions of endogenous molecules.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Antagonists have intrinsic activity.

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

    What distinguishes noncompetitive antagonists?

    <p>They bind irreversibly to receptors</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What occurs during receptor downregulation?

    <p>The cell becomes less responsive due to continuous activation of receptors.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is an example of a drug that does not act through receptors?

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

    Which drug is considered a partial agonist?

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

    What does ED50 represent?

    <p>Dose that produces a response in 50% of the population</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do competitive antagonists work?

    <p>They compete with agonists for binding to receptors and their effects can be overcome by high concentrations of agonists.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the therapeutic index?

    <p>The ratio of a drug's LD50 to its ED50.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Therapeutic index is a measure of a drug's efficacy.

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

    What happens when an initial dose of a drug is based on ED50?

    <p>Some patients may be undertreated or receive more than needed</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a drug interaction?

    <p>When another substance alters a drug's efficacy, effects, or safety.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a potentiative interaction?

    <p>One drug intensifies the effects of another</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is a wellness effect of combining sulbactam and ampicillin?

    <p>Prolonged therapeutic effects of ampicillin</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does LD50 represent?

    <p>The average lethal dose that is lethal to 50% of the subjects treated.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The ED50 is often the dose selected for ___ treatment.

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

    What type of interaction is seen when two drugs compete for binding on plasma albumin?

    <p>Pharmacokinetic interaction</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of interactions are pharmacodynamic interactions?

    <p>Both A and B</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What occurs when an antagonist drug blocks access of an agonist drug to its receptor?

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

    Interactions at the same receptor are almost always potentiative.

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

    Give an example of a beneficial inhibitory interaction.

    <p>Naloxone and morphine</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Hydrochlorothiazide acts on the distal convoluted tubule of the nephron to increase excretion of ______.

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

    Combined toxicity occurs when drug A and drug B are both safe to the same organ.

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

    What is a significant risk of combining isoniazid and rifampin?

    <p>Liver injury</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is a method to minimize adverse drug interactions?

    <p>Minimize the number of drugs a patient receives</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What effect can food have on drug absorption?

    <p>Decrease or increase absorption</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the effect of grapefruit juice on certain drugs?

    <p>It inhibits metabolism, raising drug levels</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Grapefruit juice affects the metabolism of drugs administered intravenously.

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

    Match the following drugs with their indications:

    <p>Felodipine = Hypertension; angina pectoris Verapamil = Hypertension; angina pectoris Atorvastatin = Cholesterol reduction Amiodarone = Cardiac dysrhythmias</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term for the range of plasma drug levels necessary to produce therapeutic responses without causing toxicity?

    <p>Therapeutic range</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Drugs with a narrow therapeutic range are easier to administer safely compared to those with a wide therapeutic range.

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

    What determines the duration of drug effects?

    <p>Combination of metabolism and excretion</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The half-life of a drug is defined as the time required for the amount of drug in the body to decrease by _____.

    <p>50%</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How long does it take to reach plateau when administering repeated doses of a drug?

    <p>Four half-lives</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Potency and efficacy are completely independent qualities of a drug.

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

    What are the two properties revealed by dose-response curves?

    <p>Maximal efficacy and relative potency</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Drugs produce their effects by interacting with other ______.

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

    What is pharmacokinetics?

    <p>The study of drug movement throughout the body.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following are basic pharmacokinetic processes? (Select all that apply)

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

    Metabolism refers to the movement of drugs out of the body.

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

    What are the three important ways by which drugs cross cell membranes?

    <p>Passage through channels or pores, passage with the aid of a transport system, direct penetration.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is pH partitioning?

    <p>The process whereby a drug accumulates on the side of a membrane where the pH favors its ionization.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What determines the rate and extent of drug absorption? (Select all that apply)

    <p>Blood flow</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the blood-brain barrier (BBB)?

    <p>The unique anatomy of capillaries in the central nervous system that prevents drug passage.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which routes of administration typically have a slow and variable absorption pattern?

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

    What are the major factors determining drug distribution? (Select all that apply)

    <p>Blood flow to tissues</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role does plasma albumin play in drug binding?

    <p>Plasma albumin is the most important protein with which drugs can bind.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What defines a receptor?

    <p>Any functional macromolecule in a cell to which a drug binds to produce its effects.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Drugs can give cells new functions.

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

    What is selectivity in drug action?

    <p>The ability to elicit only the response for which a drug is given.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are agonists?

    <p>Drugs that mimic the actions of endogenous regulatory molecules</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary role of antagonists?

    <p>To block receptor activation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the difference between affinity and intrinsic activity?

    <p>Affinity refers to the strength of attraction between a drug and its receptor; intrinsic activity refers to the drug's ability to activate the receptor upon binding.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a noncompetitive antagonist?

    <p>A drug that binds irreversibly to receptors</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Partial agonists produce effects that are equal to full agonists.

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

    Drugs that act through simple physical or chemical interactions without receptor involvement include __________.

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

    What happens to receptor sensitivity in response to continuous activation?

    <p>The cell becomes less responsive, a phenomenon known as desensitization.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Interpatient variability in drug responses is not significant.

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

    Which of these proteins is the most important for drug binding in plasma?

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

    Only bound drug molecules can exit the vascular system.

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

    What determines the binding of drugs to albumin?

    <p>The strength of attraction between the drug and albumin</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is biotransformation?

    <p>Drug metabolism</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The _____ system is responsible for most drug metabolism in the liver.

    <p>P450</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a consequence of drug metabolism?

    <p>Increased lipid solubility</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What may happen when two drugs compete for the same binding site on albumin?

    <p>One drug can displace another, increasing its free concentration.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Age can influence drug metabolism rates.

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

    What does the first-pass effect refer to?

    <p>The rapid inactivation of certain drugs upon first passage through the liver</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Drugs may exit the body through urine, bile, sweat, saliva, breast milk, and _____ air.

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

    What are the primary processes involved in urinary drug excretion?

    <p>Glomerular filtration, passive tubular reabsorption, active tubular secretion.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is interpatient variability?

    <p>It refers to the differences in how individual patients respond to medication.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does ED50 stand for?

    <p>Average effective dose.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a major implication of interpatient variation in drug response?

    <p>Subsequent doses may need to be fine-tuned based on the patient's response.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    A large therapeutic index indicates that a drug is relatively unsafe.

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

    What can a small therapeutic index indicate?

    <p>The drug is relatively unsafe.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which outcome can result from drug-drug interactions?

    <p>All of the above.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a potentiative interaction?

    <p>An interaction where one drug intensifies the effects of another.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main challenge in monitoring drug interactions?

    <p>The large number of possible interactions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How can altered metabolism affect drug levels?

    <p>It can increase or decrease the levels of drugs metabolized by liver enzymes.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does altered absorption mean in the context of drug interactions?

    <p>Both A and B.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are the two basic types of pharmacodynamic interactions?

    <p>Both A and B</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Interactions at the same receptor are almost always potentiative.

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

    What is an example of a beneficial inhibitory interaction?

    <p>naloxone and morphine</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What types of interactions can occur when drugs act at separate sites?

    <p>potentiative or inhibitory</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What can happen if drug A and drug B are both toxic to the same organ?

    <p>They will cause more injury than when used separately</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What should be done to minimize adverse drug-drug interactions?

    <p>All of the above</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Food can only decrease the absorption of drugs.

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

    What is a classic example of food reducing drug absorption?

    <p>calcium-containing foods and tetracycline antibiotics</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does grapefruit juice affect drug metabolism?

    <p>It inhibits the metabolism of certain drugs, raising their blood levels.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following drugs is impacted by grapefruit juice?

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

    Which of the following is not a potential consequence of increased drug levels due to drug interactions?

    <p>None of the above</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is pharmacokinetics?

    <p>The study of drug movement throughout the body.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following are basic pharmacokinetic processes? (Select all that apply)

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

    The combination of metabolism and excretion is called elimination.

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

    What is meant by 'pH partitioning'?

    <p>The process whereby a drug accumulates on the side of a membrane where the pH most favors its ionization.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What factor determines the passage of drugs across biologic membranes?

    <p>Lipid solubility</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Name the three most important ways drugs cross cell membranes.

    <p>Passage through channels or pores, passage with the aid of a transport system, and direct penetration of the membrane.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Most drugs are too large to pass through channels or pores.

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

    Which type of drug is best absorbed in an acidic environment?

    <p>Weak acids</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of plasma albumin in drug binding?

    <p>Plasma albumin forms reversible bonds with drugs and is too large to leave the bloodstream.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary determinant of drug distribution?

    <p>Blood flow to tissues</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Ions can easily cross membranes regardless of their charge.

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

    What is the range of plasma drug levels called that falls between the MEC and the toxic concentration?

    <p>Therapeutic range</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Drugs with a narrow therapeutic range are easier to administer safely than those with a wide therapeutic range.

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

    What does MEC stand for?

    <p>Minimum Effective Concentration</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How is drug half-life defined?

    <p>The time required for the amount of drug in the body to decrease by 50%</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of pharmacodynamic interaction occurs when two drugs act at the same site?

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

    How long does it typically take for most drugs to leave the body after administration is discontinued?

    <p>4 half-lives</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a loading dose?

    <p>A large initial dose of a drug to achieve high drug levels quickly</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the clinical significance of drug-drug interactions?

    <p>They can affect the outcome of therapy by increasing or reducing the intensity of responses.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is indicated by the height of a drug's dose-response curve?

    <p>Maximal efficacy</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which drug can reverse the symptoms of morphine overdose?

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

    Potency refers to the maximal effect that a drug can produce.

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

    Combining two drugs that are both toxic to the same organ can lead to less injury than using one drug alone.

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

    The interaction between morphine and diazepam is an example of a ______ interaction.

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

    What are the three phases of the dose-response curve?

    <p>Phase 1 (flat), Phase 2 (gradual increase), Phase 3 (levels off)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What technique can be used to reduce fluctuations in drug levels?

    <p>Using continuous infusion</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What can significantly alter the efficacy and safety of some drugs?

    <p>Coadministration with food</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which food interaction example involves reduced drug absorption?

    <p>Calcium-containing foods and tetracycline</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What effect does grapefruit juice have on certain drugs?

    <p>Inhibits their metabolism</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following drugs with their indications:

    <p>Isoniazid = Tuberculosis treatment Saquinavir = HIV infection treatment Amiodarone = Cardiac dysrhythmias Caffeine = Prevention of sleepiness</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a receptor?

    <p>Any functional macromolecule in a cell to which a drug binds to produce its effects.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Drugs can give cells new functions.

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

    What do agonists do?

    <p>Mimic the actions of endogenous molecules</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is selectivity in drug action?

    <p>The ability to elicit only the response for which a drug is given</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are the two theories of drug-receptor interaction?

    <p>Simple occupancy theory and modified occupancy theory.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is intrinsic activity in terms of drugs?

    <p>The ability of a drug to activate the receptor after binding.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of noncompetitive antagonists?

    <p>They bind irreversibly to receptors and reduce the maximal response of agonists.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What term is used for drugs that block the actions of regulatory molecules?

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

    What happens to receptors after continuous activation by agonists?

    <p>The receptors can become desensitized or refractory.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How can partial agonists act?

    <p>As both agonists and antagonists</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Drugs that mimic the body's own regulatory molecules are called ______.

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

    What is the effect of competitive antagonists?

    <p>They bind reversibly and can be overcome by high doses of agonists</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What defines the affinity of a drug?

    <p>The strength of the attraction between a drug and its receptor.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does interpatient variability mean in the context of medication response?

    <p>Interpatient variability refers to the differences in how different patients respond to the same medication.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the ED50?

    <p>The ED50 is the dose required to produce a defined therapeutic response in 50% of the population.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following statements about the therapeutic index is true?

    <p>A high therapeutic index indicates a drug is relatively safe.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are the possible outcomes of drug-drug interactions?

    <p>All of the above.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a potentiative drug interaction?

    <p>A potentiative drug interaction occurs when one drug intensifies the effects of another.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What effect can antacids have on drug absorption?

    <p>Antacids can decrease the ionization of basic drugs, increasing their absorption, while having the opposite effect on acidic drugs.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What happens when a drug inhibits the metabolism of another drug?

    <p>Levels of the second drug will rise.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role does P-glycoprotein (PGP) play in drug interactions?

    <p>P-glycoprotein transports a variety of drugs out of cells, influencing their absorption and elimination.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    A high therapeutic index indicates that a drug is generally unsafe.

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

    What is the most important protein to which drugs bind in plasma?

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

    Only bound drug molecules can leave the vascular system.

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

    What percentage of warfarin molecules in plasma are typically bound to albumin?

    <p>99%</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What happens to a drug that is bound to albumin?

    Signup and view all the answers

    What is the most prevalent protein in plasma that drugs bind to?

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

    Only bound drug molecules can leave the vascular system.

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

    What percentage of warfarin molecules are typically bound to albumin?

    <p>99%</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary site of drug metabolism in the body?

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

    What are the consequences of drug metabolism? (Select all that apply)

    <p>Drug inactivation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the first-pass effect?

    <p>The rapid hepatic inactivation of certain oral drugs.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What three processes constitute urinary excretion of drugs?

    <p>Passive tubular reabsorption</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Renal function tends to decline in older adults.

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

    What is the minimum effective concentration (MEC)?

    <p>The plasma drug level less than which therapeutic effects will not occur.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What can cause an increase in active drug accumulation in the body?

    <p>Inhibition of drug metabolism.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the relationship between plasma drug levels and therapeutic responses?

    <p>There is a direct correlation.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Pharmacokinetics

    • Pharmacokinetics refers to the study of how drugs move throughout the body.
    • Four basic processes: absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination.
    • Absorption: The movement of a drug from the site of administration into the bloodstream.
    • Distribution: The transportation of drugs from the bloodstream to tissues and cells.
    • Metabolism (Biotransformation): The enzymatic alteration of a drug's structure.
    • Excretion: The removal of drugs and metabolites from the body.
    • Elimination combines both metabolism and excretion.
    • Drug concentration at the site of action dictates the intensity of effects, emphasizing the need for optimal dosing.

    Passage of Drugs Across Membranes

    • Drugs must cross cell membranes to undergo absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion.
    • Drug transfer across membranes can occur via three mechanisms: channels/pores, transport systems, and direct penetration.
    • Direct Penetration: The most common method; requires drugs to be lipid-soluble (lipophilic) to easily pass through lipid-rich membranes.

    Drug Solubility

    • Polar Molecules: Have uneven charge distributions, are soluble in polar solvents (e.g., water), but not in lipids (e.g., glycerin).
    • Ions: Charged molecules cannot cross membranes unless they become nonionized; drug ionization depends on the surrounding medium's pH.

    pH Partitioning (Ion Trapping)

    • The ionization of drugs is influenced by pH differences in bodily compartments.
    • Weak acids are better absorbed in acidic environments, while weak bases are better absorbed in alkaline environments.
    • Drugs will accumulate on the side of a membrane that favors their ionized form.

    Absorption Dynamics

    • Absorption: Movement of a drug from its administration site into systemic circulation; rate influences onset and intensity of effects.
    • Factors Affecting Absorption:
      • Rate of dissolution: Solubility impacts onset time.
      • Surface area: Larger areas (e.g., small intestine) enhance absorption rate.
      • Blood flow: High blood flow sites enable faster absorption.
      • Lipid solubility: Highly lipid-soluble drugs cross membranes more easily.

    Routes of Administration

    • Intravenous (IV): Immediate effect, ideal for emergencies, but irreversible and poses infection risks.
    • Intramuscular (IM): Rapid absorption with water-soluble drugs, can use depot preparations for prolonged effects.
    • Subcutaneous (subQ): Similar to IM, simpler administration.
    • Oral (PO): Convenient and inexpensive, but absorption can be slow and variable due to gastric factors.

    Distribution Dynamics

    • Distribution: The movement of drugs from systemic circulation to the site of action, determined by blood flow, ability to exit vasculature, and entry into cells.
    • Conditions such as abscesses and tumors can limit drug distribution due to low regional blood flow.
    • Drugs can exit the bloodstream through typical capillary beds with minimal resistance.

    Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB)

    • The BBB comprises tightly bound capillaries in the CNS, limiting drug passage primarily to lipid-soluble compounds or those with specific transport systems.
    • P-Glycoprotein (PGP) in the BBB pumps drugs back into circulation, reducing brain access.

    Placental Drug Transfer

    • The placental barrier allows drug passage but is more permeable to lipid-soluble, non-ionized compounds.
    • Drugs that are ionized, polar, or protein-bound are largely excluded from fetal blood supply.

    Protein Binding

    • Drugs can reversibly bind to plasma proteins, predominantly albumin, which restricts their distribution.
    • Protein Binding Effects:
      • Only unbound drugs can exit circulation and produce effects; bound drugs remain in circulation until released.
      • Competitive binding can lead to increased free concentrations of certain drugs, potentially causing toxicity.

    Drug Entry into Cells

    • Many drugs affect external receptors on cell membranes; others enter cells for action.
    • Drug entry and metabolism depend on lipid solubility and transport systems.

    Drug Metabolism

    • Drug metabolism (biotransformation) involves enzymatic changes to drug structure.
    • Primarily occurs in the liver.

    Hepatic Drug-Metabolizing Enzymes

    • Most liver metabolism is conducted by the P450 enzyme system.
    • Cytochrome P450 consists of 12 related enzyme families; CYP1, CYP2, and CYP3 metabolize drugs.
    • Specific enzymes are identified as CYP1A2, CYP2D6, CYP3A4 for their respective families.

    Therapeutic Consequences of Drug Metabolism

    • Six key effects include:
      • Accelerated renal excretion of drugs
      • Drug inactivation
      • Increased therapeutic action
      • Activation of prodrugs
      • Increased toxicity
      • Decreased toxicity

    Accelerated Renal Drug Excretion

    • Metabolism converts lipid-soluble drugs to hydrophilic forms, enhancing renal excretion.

    Drug Inactivation

    • Active drugs can be metabolized into inactive metabolites, which is commonly desired.

    Increased Therapeutic Action

    • Some drugs, like codeine, are metabolized into more potent forms (e.g., morphine).

    Activation of Prodrugs

    • Prodrugs are inactive until metabolized; can enable crossing barriers like the blood-brain barrier.

    Toxicity Management

    • Metabolism can reduce toxicity by converting drugs to inactive forms.
    • Conversely, metabolism may activate a toxic metabolite, causing harm (e.g., acetaminophen toxicity).

    Special Considerations in Drug Metabolism

    • Age: Drug metabolism is reduced in infants and elderly patients; dosages must be adjusted.
    • Induction/Inhibition: Some drugs induce or inhibit P450 enzymes, affecting metabolism rates.
    • First-Pass Effect: First-pass metabolism can deactivate drugs before systemic circulation; parenteral routes can avoid this.
    • Nutritional Status: Malnutrition can impair the effectiveness of drug-metabolizing enzymes.
    • Competition Between Drugs: Simultaneous use of drugs metabolized via the same pathway can decrease their clearance rate.
    • Enterohepatic Recirculation: Certain drugs can cycle from liver to intestines and back, prolonging their effects.

    Drug Excretion

    • Excretion removes drugs via urine, bile, sweat, saliva, breast milk, and exhalation; kidneys are primary organs.

    Renal Drug Excretion

    • Excretion involves glomerular filtration, passive reabsorption, and active secretion.
    • Drugs that are lipid soluble can be reabsorbed; non-lipid-soluble drugs are excreted.

    Factors Modifying Renal Drug Excretion

    • pH-dependent ionization: Alters excretion rates by causing ionization in urine.
    • Active Tubular Transport Competition: Drugs that share transport systems may slow each other's excretion.
    • Age: Newborns and elderly have reduced renal excretion capabilities; must adjust dosages.

    Nonrenal Routes of Drug Excretion

    • Breast milk excretion can expose infants to maternal medications.
    • Bile can excrete specific drugs; lungs eliminate volatile substances like anesthetics.

    Time Course of Drug Responses

    • Drug actions are regulated by absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion.
    • Plasma drug levels are correlated with drug effects and can be monitored clinically.

    Plasma Drug Levels

    • Monitoring plasma levels is critical for adjusting dosages based on therapeutic and toxic ranges.
    • Minimum Effective Concentration (MEC): Lowest plasma level for therapeutic effect.
    • Toxic Concentration: Level where adverse effects occur.

    Therapeutic Range

    • Therapeutic effects occur between MEC and toxic concentration; wider ranges indicate safer drugs.

    Single-Dose Time Course

    • Following a dose, drug levels rise during absorption and fall through metabolism and excretion, with a latency period before effects begin.

    Drug Half-Life

    • Defined as the time for drug concentration to decrease by half; influences how rapidly levels decline.
    • Different drugs exhibit varying half-lives, dictating dosing schedules and frequency.### Drug Half-Life and Dosing
    • Morphine levels in the body decrease by 50% every 3 hours, independent of the initial amount.
    • The half-life determines the dosing interval; shorter half-lives require more frequent dosing to avoid dropping below the Minimum Effective Concentration (MEC).
    • Longer half-lives allow for extended intervals between doses without losing therapeutic effects.

    Drug Accumulation and Plateau Levels

    • Repeated doses can lead to drug accumulation, with levels peaking when the input equals output.
    • Plateau is reached after about four half-lives of the drug, regardless of dose size.
    • Upon stopping a drug, approximately 94% is eliminated in four half-lives.

    Techniques to Manage Drug Levels

    • Fluctuations in drug levels can be minimized via:
      • Continuous infusion for stable plasma levels.
      • Depot preparations for slow, steady release.
      • Smaller, more frequent doses to reduce peak/trough variations while maintaining total daily dosage.

    Loading Dose vs. Maintenance Dose

    • A loading dose is a larger initial dose used to quickly achieve therapeutic levels.
    • Maintenance doses follow to maintain levels without necessarily taking the time required to reach the plateau.

    Influence of Half-Life on Drug Discontinuation

    • Drugs with short half-lives are eliminated quickly, aiding management of overdose.
    • Long half-life drugs may retain toxic levels longer, necessitating more complex management.

    Pharmacodynamics Overview

    • Pharmacodynamics involves understanding drug effects and mechanisms at the biochemical level.
    • It is essential for effective therapeutic management.

    Dose-Response Relationships

    • The dose-response relationship defines the correlation among administered dose size, intensity of response, and efficacy.
    • Three phases of the dose-response curve:
      • Phase 1: Low doses yield minimal response.
      • Phase 2: Increased doses result in greater responses (graded relationship).
      • Phase 3: Further increases don’t enhance the response (maximal efficacy).

    Maximal Efficacy and Potency

    • Maximal efficacy refers to the maximum therapeutic effect a drug can produce, indicated by the curve’s height.
    • Potency indicates the amount of drug required for a given effect and is represented by the curve's position along the x-axis.
    • Higher potency means effective results at lower doses, but does not imply greater efficacy.

    Drug-Receptor Interactions

    • Drugs exert effects by binding to receptors, biochemical sites that respond to endogenous compounds.
    • Selectivity of drug action is crucial for reducing side effects; drugs ideally interact with specific receptors for targeted responses.
    • Receptor selectivity often leads to limited side effects and narrowed therapeutic action.

    Theories of Drug-Receptor Interaction

    • Simple occupancy theory posits response intensity is proportional to receptor occupancy, reaching a maximum at 100% occupancy.
    • Modified occupancy theory offers insights into why different drugs have varying potencies and efficacies even at full receptor occupancy.

    Pharmacokinetics

    • Pharmacokinetics involves drug movement within the body through four main processes: absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion.
    • Absorption refers to a drug's transition from the administration site into the bloodstream.
    • Distribution involves drug transport from the blood to tissues and cells.
    • Metabolism, or biotransformation, entails enzymatic alterations to the drug's structure.
    • Excretion is the removal of drugs and their metabolites from the body, constituting the elimination process.
    • Concentration at the drug's site of action determines the intensity of response; careful management of routes, dosage, and schedule is essential.

    Drug Membrane Passage

    • Drugs must cross biological membranes in all pharmacokinetic phases; factors influencing this passage are crucial to drug action.
    • The primary methods for drugs to cross cell membranes include channels/pores, transport systems, and direct penetration.
    • Direct penetration through lipid membranes is the most common method due to the lipophilic nature of most drugs.

    Drug Solubility

    • Polar molecules, like water, cannot easily cross membranes due to uneven charge distributions; they dissolve in polar solvents.
    • Ions require a nonionized state for membrane passage, as ionized forms face significant barriers.
    • Weak acids absorb better in acidic environments; weak bases are better absorbed in alkaline conditions.

    Absorption Influencers

    • Absorption rate depends on the drug's physical and chemical properties, and site-specific physiological factors.
    • Key factors include:
      • Rate of dissolution: Faster dissolution correlates with quicker absorption.
      • Surface area: Larger areas, such as the small intestine, enhance absorption.
      • Blood flow: Higher blood flow speeds up absorption by maintaining concentration gradients.
      • Lipid solubility: Lipophilic drugs typically absorb faster than hydrophilic drugs.
      • pH partitioning: Ionization effects dependent on pH differences can influence absorption.

    Routes of Administration

    • Different routes (e.g., oral, intravenous, intramuscular, subcutaneous) have unique absorption patterns affecting onset and intensity.
    • Intravenous (IV) administration bypasses absorption barriers, providing rapid effects but comes with risks like infection.
    • Oral (PO) administration is convenient but varies in absorption rates due to factors like gastric pH and blood flow.

    Distribution Factors

    • Distribution from systemic circulation to action sites is influenced by blood flow, drug exit from vasculature, and cellular entry capability.
    • Poor blood flow in conditions like abscesses can hinder drug delivery, as antibiotics cannot access affected areas without drainage.
    • Drugs generally exit blood circulation through capillary pores; however, drugs targeting the brain face the blood-brain barrier (BBB), which requires lipid solubility for entry.

    Placental Drug Transfer and Protein Binding

    • The placenta allows drug passage to varying degrees, primarily favoring lipid-soluble compounds.
    • Protein binding, mainly to albumin, restricts drug distribution; only unbound drugs can exert effects or undergo metabolism/excretion.
    • Binding dynamics create potential for drug interactions, as competition for limited binding sites can lead to altered drug responses and possible toxicity.

    Drug Interaction Considerations

    • High-affinity binding can significantly affect the pharmacokinetics of co-administered drugs, necessitating careful monitoring to avoid adverse effects.### Drug Entry and Cell Membrane Permeability
    • Drugs exert effects by binding to receptors on cell membranes or entering cells for metabolism and action.
    • Factors affecting drug permeability include lipid solubility and the presence of transport systems.

    Drug Metabolism

    • Defined as enzymatic alteration of drug structure, mainly occurring in the liver.
    • Most metabolism carried out by the hepatic microsomal enzyme system (P450 system), consisting of 12 enzyme families.

    Cytochrome P450 Enzyme Families

    • Key families for drug metabolism: CYP1, CYP2, CYP3, each with specific forms (e.g., CYP1A2, CYP2D6, CYP3A4) responsible for metabolizing particular drugs.

    Consequences of Drug Metabolism

    • Accelerated Renal Excretion: Converts lipid-soluble drugs to hydrophilic forms for easier excretion by kidneys.
    • Drug Inactivation: Converts active drugs to inactive forms, commonly seen.
    • Increased Therapeutic Action: Metabolism can enhance drug effectiveness (e.g., conversion of codeine to morphine).
    • Activation of Prodrugs: Prodrugs convert to active forms via metabolism, such as lipid-soluble drugs crossing the blood-brain barrier.
    • Increased or Decreased Toxicity: Metabolism may produce toxic metabolites (e.g., acetaminophen) or reduce toxicity by inactivating drugs.

    Factors Influencing Drug Metabolism

    • Age: Infants have limited drug metabolism capabilities; older adults often metabolize drugs more slowly.
    • Induction and Inhibition: Inducing drugs increase metabolism rate, while inhibitors decrease it, affecting drug plasma levels.
    • First-Pass Effect: Certain oral drugs may be inactivated by the liver before systemic circulation, necessitating alternative administration routes.
    • Nutritional Status: Malnutrition can impair drug metabolism due to a lack of necessary cofactors.
    • Competition Between Drugs: Drugs using the same metabolic pathways may compete, potentially leading to reduced metabolism rates.
    • Enterohepatic Recirculation: Some drugs re-enter the liver after being excreted into bile, prolonging their action in the body.

    Drug Excretion

    • Defined as the removal of drugs from the body, primarily through renal pathways.
    • Renal Excretion Processes:
      • Glomerular Filtration: Small molecules and drugs forced from blood to tubular urine.
      • Passive Tubular Reabsorption: Lipid-soluble drugs may re-enter blood after being filtered, while ionized drugs remain for excretion.
      • Active Tubular Secretion: Active transport systems in kidneys move drugs from blood to urine.

    Factors Modifying Renal Drug Excretion

    • pH-Dependent Ionization: Altering urinary pH promotes drug ionization which can enhance excretion.
    • Competition for Active Transport: Simultaneous administration of drugs competing for the same transport pathway can delay excretion.
    • Age: Immature kidneys in newborns and age-related decline in older adults affect drug excretion capabilities.

    Non-Renal Routes of Drug Excretion

    • Drugs can also be excreted in breast milk, bile (to feces), and via the lungs.
    • Breastfeeding can expose nursing infants to drugs passed through milk.

    Statistical Concepts in Drug Responses

    • Drug responses are influenced by pharmacokinetic processes (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion).
    • Plasma Drug Concentrations: Monitoring drug levels assists in managing therapeutic and toxic responses.
    • Minimum Effective Concentration (MEC): The lowest plasma level necessary for therapeutic effect.
    • Toxic Concentration: Plasma levels that lead to toxicity; doses must be managed to avoid reaching this level.
    • Therapeutic Range: The safe plasma level range between MEC and toxic concentration, crucial for effective patient care.

    Drug Half-Life

    • Defined as the time taken for plasma drug levels to decrease by half.
    • Varies widely among drugs; some have very short half-lives while others have extended durations.
    • Understanding half-life is essential for determining dosing schedules and managing therapeutic effects.### Drug Half-Life and Dosing
    • Morphine levels decrease by 50% every 3 hours, regardless of initial amount.
    • Higher drug amounts result in a larger absolute amount lost over the same time period.
    • A drug's half-life influences its dosing interval; shorter half-lives necessitate shorter dosing intervals to maintain therapeutic effects.

    Drug Accumulation and Plateau Levels

    • Multiple doses of a drug cause accumulation in the body.
    • Plateau levels occur when the amount eliminated equals the amount administered.
    • Plateau is reached in approximately four half-lives, where drug levels stabilize.

    Techniques to Minimize Fluctuations

    • Continuous infusion maintains stable plasma drug levels.
    • Depot preparations release drugs slowly and steadily.
    • Reducing dose size and increasing frequency minimizes fluctuations while maintaining total daily dose.

    Loading vs. Maintenance Doses

    • Loading doses quickly establish high drug levels, enabling faster achievement of therapeutic plateau.
    • Maintenance doses maintain plateau after loading doses.
    • Time to reach plateau remains consistent regardless of dose size.

    Decline from Plateau

    • After discontinuation, ~94% of the drug is eliminated within four half-lives.
    • Drugs with short half-lives allow for rapid decline in body stores, simplifying overdose management.

    Pharmacodynamics Overview

    • Pharmacodynamics studies the effect of drugs on the body and the mechanisms behind these effects.
    • Understanding pharmacodynamics is crucial for achieving therapeutic outcomes.

    Dose-Response Relationships

    • Dose-response relationships link dose size to the intensity of response.
    • Characterized by three phases:
      • Phase 1: Flat curve with low doses, no significant response.
      • Phase 2: Steeper ascent, graded responses occur.
      • Phase 3: Plateau where increases in dose do not enhance response.

    Maximal Efficacy and Potency

    • Maximal efficacy indicates the highest response a drug can achieve, demonstrated by dose-response curve height.
    • Potency refers to the amount of drug required to elicit a response, affecting dose levels without influencing maximal efficacy.
    • Potency does not imply greater efficacy; equal efficacy can occur at different potencies.

    Drug-Receptor Interactions

    • Drugs exert effects by binding to receptors, functional macromolecules in cells.
    • Drug actions mimic or block endogenous molecules, influencing physiological processes.
    • Selective drug action occurs when drugs target specific receptors, limiting side effects.

    Drug-Receptor Binding

    • Drug-receptor interactions can be likened to locks and keys; only compatible drugs can bind and produce effects.

    Theories of Drug-Receptor Interaction

    • Simple occupancy theory: The response intensity correlates with the number of occupied receptors, with maximal response at full occupancy.
    • Limitations of this theory include its inability to explain differences in drug potency or efficacy.

    Pharmacokinetics

    • Pharmacokinetics involves drug movement within the body through four main processes: absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion.
    • Absorption refers to a drug's transition from the administration site into the bloodstream.
    • Distribution involves drug transport from the blood to tissues and cells.
    • Metabolism, or biotransformation, entails enzymatic alterations to the drug's structure.
    • Excretion is the removal of drugs and their metabolites from the body, constituting the elimination process.
    • Concentration at the drug's site of action determines the intensity of response; careful management of routes, dosage, and schedule is essential.

    Drug Membrane Passage

    • Drugs must cross biological membranes in all pharmacokinetic phases; factors influencing this passage are crucial to drug action.
    • The primary methods for drugs to cross cell membranes include channels/pores, transport systems, and direct penetration.
    • Direct penetration through lipid membranes is the most common method due to the lipophilic nature of most drugs.

    Drug Solubility

    • Polar molecules, like water, cannot easily cross membranes due to uneven charge distributions; they dissolve in polar solvents.
    • Ions require a nonionized state for membrane passage, as ionized forms face significant barriers.
    • Weak acids absorb better in acidic environments; weak bases are better absorbed in alkaline conditions.

    Absorption Influencers

    • Absorption rate depends on the drug's physical and chemical properties, and site-specific physiological factors.
    • Key factors include:
      • Rate of dissolution: Faster dissolution correlates with quicker absorption.
      • Surface area: Larger areas, such as the small intestine, enhance absorption.
      • Blood flow: Higher blood flow speeds up absorption by maintaining concentration gradients.
      • Lipid solubility: Lipophilic drugs typically absorb faster than hydrophilic drugs.
      • pH partitioning: Ionization effects dependent on pH differences can influence absorption.

    Routes of Administration

    • Different routes (e.g., oral, intravenous, intramuscular, subcutaneous) have unique absorption patterns affecting onset and intensity.
    • Intravenous (IV) administration bypasses absorption barriers, providing rapid effects but comes with risks like infection.
    • Oral (PO) administration is convenient but varies in absorption rates due to factors like gastric pH and blood flow.

    Distribution Factors

    • Distribution from systemic circulation to action sites is influenced by blood flow, drug exit from vasculature, and cellular entry capability.
    • Poor blood flow in conditions like abscesses can hinder drug delivery, as antibiotics cannot access affected areas without drainage.
    • Drugs generally exit blood circulation through capillary pores; however, drugs targeting the brain face the blood-brain barrier (BBB), which requires lipid solubility for entry.

    Placental Drug Transfer and Protein Binding

    • The placenta allows drug passage to varying degrees, primarily favoring lipid-soluble compounds.
    • Protein binding, mainly to albumin, restricts drug distribution; only unbound drugs can exert effects or undergo metabolism/excretion.
    • Binding dynamics create potential for drug interactions, as competition for limited binding sites can lead to altered drug responses and possible toxicity.

    Drug Interaction Considerations

    • High-affinity binding can significantly affect the pharmacokinetics of co-administered drugs, necessitating careful monitoring to avoid adverse effects.### Drug Entry and Cell Membrane Permeability
    • Drugs exert effects by binding to receptors on cell membranes or entering cells for metabolism and action.
    • Factors affecting drug permeability include lipid solubility and the presence of transport systems.

    Drug Metabolism

    • Defined as enzymatic alteration of drug structure, mainly occurring in the liver.
    • Most metabolism carried out by the hepatic microsomal enzyme system (P450 system), consisting of 12 enzyme families.

    Cytochrome P450 Enzyme Families

    • Key families for drug metabolism: CYP1, CYP2, CYP3, each with specific forms (e.g., CYP1A2, CYP2D6, CYP3A4) responsible for metabolizing particular drugs.

    Consequences of Drug Metabolism

    • Accelerated Renal Excretion: Converts lipid-soluble drugs to hydrophilic forms for easier excretion by kidneys.
    • Drug Inactivation: Converts active drugs to inactive forms, commonly seen.
    • Increased Therapeutic Action: Metabolism can enhance drug effectiveness (e.g., conversion of codeine to morphine).
    • Activation of Prodrugs: Prodrugs convert to active forms via metabolism, such as lipid-soluble drugs crossing the blood-brain barrier.
    • Increased or Decreased Toxicity: Metabolism may produce toxic metabolites (e.g., acetaminophen) or reduce toxicity by inactivating drugs.

    Factors Influencing Drug Metabolism

    • Age: Infants have limited drug metabolism capabilities; older adults often metabolize drugs more slowly.
    • Induction and Inhibition: Inducing drugs increase metabolism rate, while inhibitors decrease it, affecting drug plasma levels.
    • First-Pass Effect: Certain oral drugs may be inactivated by the liver before systemic circulation, necessitating alternative administration routes.
    • Nutritional Status: Malnutrition can impair drug metabolism due to a lack of necessary cofactors.
    • Competition Between Drugs: Drugs using the same metabolic pathways may compete, potentially leading to reduced metabolism rates.
    • Enterohepatic Recirculation: Some drugs re-enter the liver after being excreted into bile, prolonging their action in the body.

    Drug Excretion

    • Defined as the removal of drugs from the body, primarily through renal pathways.
    • Renal Excretion Processes:
      • Glomerular Filtration: Small molecules and drugs forced from blood to tubular urine.
      • Passive Tubular Reabsorption: Lipid-soluble drugs may re-enter blood after being filtered, while ionized drugs remain for excretion.
      • Active Tubular Secretion: Active transport systems in kidneys move drugs from blood to urine.

    Factors Modifying Renal Drug Excretion

    • pH-Dependent Ionization: Altering urinary pH promotes drug ionization which can enhance excretion.
    • Competition for Active Transport: Simultaneous administration of drugs competing for the same transport pathway can delay excretion.
    • Age: Immature kidneys in newborns and age-related decline in older adults affect drug excretion capabilities.

    Non-Renal Routes of Drug Excretion

    • Drugs can also be excreted in breast milk, bile (to feces), and via the lungs.
    • Breastfeeding can expose nursing infants to drugs passed through milk.

    Statistical Concepts in Drug Responses

    • Drug responses are influenced by pharmacokinetic processes (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion).
    • Plasma Drug Concentrations: Monitoring drug levels assists in managing therapeutic and toxic responses.
    • Minimum Effective Concentration (MEC): The lowest plasma level necessary for therapeutic effect.
    • Toxic Concentration: Plasma levels that lead to toxicity; doses must be managed to avoid reaching this level.
    • Therapeutic Range: The safe plasma level range between MEC and toxic concentration, crucial for effective patient care.

    Drug Half-Life

    • Defined as the time taken for plasma drug levels to decrease by half.
    • Varies widely among drugs; some have very short half-lives while others have extended durations.
    • Understanding half-life is essential for determining dosing schedules and managing therapeutic effects.### Drug Half-Life and Dosing
    • Morphine levels decrease by 50% every 3 hours, regardless of initial amount.
    • Higher drug amounts result in a larger absolute amount lost over the same time period.
    • A drug's half-life influences its dosing interval; shorter half-lives necessitate shorter dosing intervals to maintain therapeutic effects.

    Drug Accumulation and Plateau Levels

    • Multiple doses of a drug cause accumulation in the body.
    • Plateau levels occur when the amount eliminated equals the amount administered.
    • Plateau is reached in approximately four half-lives, where drug levels stabilize.

    Techniques to Minimize Fluctuations

    • Continuous infusion maintains stable plasma drug levels.
    • Depot preparations release drugs slowly and steadily.
    • Reducing dose size and increasing frequency minimizes fluctuations while maintaining total daily dose.

    Loading vs. Maintenance Doses

    • Loading doses quickly establish high drug levels, enabling faster achievement of therapeutic plateau.
    • Maintenance doses maintain plateau after loading doses.
    • Time to reach plateau remains consistent regardless of dose size.

    Decline from Plateau

    • After discontinuation, ~94% of the drug is eliminated within four half-lives.
    • Drugs with short half-lives allow for rapid decline in body stores, simplifying overdose management.

    Pharmacodynamics Overview

    • Pharmacodynamics studies the effect of drugs on the body and the mechanisms behind these effects.
    • Understanding pharmacodynamics is crucial for achieving therapeutic outcomes.

    Dose-Response Relationships

    • Dose-response relationships link dose size to the intensity of response.
    • Characterized by three phases:
      • Phase 1: Flat curve with low doses, no significant response.
      • Phase 2: Steeper ascent, graded responses occur.
      • Phase 3: Plateau where increases in dose do not enhance response.

    Maximal Efficacy and Potency

    • Maximal efficacy indicates the highest response a drug can achieve, demonstrated by dose-response curve height.
    • Potency refers to the amount of drug required to elicit a response, affecting dose levels without influencing maximal efficacy.
    • Potency does not imply greater efficacy; equal efficacy can occur at different potencies.

    Drug-Receptor Interactions

    • Drugs exert effects by binding to receptors, functional macromolecules in cells.
    • Drug actions mimic or block endogenous molecules, influencing physiological processes.
    • Selective drug action occurs when drugs target specific receptors, limiting side effects.

    Drug-Receptor Binding

    • Drug-receptor interactions can be likened to locks and keys; only compatible drugs can bind and produce effects.

    Theories of Drug-Receptor Interaction

    • Simple occupancy theory: The response intensity correlates with the number of occupied receptors, with maximal response at full occupancy.
    • Limitations of this theory include its inability to explain differences in drug potency or efficacy.

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    Description

    This quiz explores the essential concepts of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, highlighting how drugs are processed in the body and how they exert their effects. Understanding these processes is crucial for safe prescribing and drug monitoring. Test your knowledge and enhance your comprehension of drug interactions and actions.

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