Pharmacology Basics

Pharmacokinetics

• Study of how the body affects a drug
• Processes involved:
  1. Absorption: drug enters bloodstream
  2. Distribution: drug spread throughout body
  3. Metabolism: drug broken down by enzymes
  4. Excretion: drug eliminated from body
• Factors that influence pharmacokinetics:
  • Dose and route of administration
  • Patient age, weight, and kidney/liver function
  • Food and other substances that interact with the drug

Pharmacodynamics

• Study of how a drug affects the body
• Mechanisms of action:
  1. Receptor binding: drug binds to specific receptors on cells
  2. Enzyme inhibition: drug blocks enzyme activity
  3. Ion channel modulation: drug affects ion flow across cell membranes
• Factors that influence pharmacodynamics:
  • Dose and concentration of the drug
  • Patient genetics and individual variability
  • Presence of other diseases or conditions

Drug Interactions

• Occur when one drug affects the action of another drug
• Types of interactions:
  1. Pharmacokinetic interactions: one drug affects another's absorption, distribution, metabolism, or excretion
  2. Pharmacodynamic interactions: one drug affects another's mechanism of action
  3. Additive interactions: effects of two drugs are added together
  4. Synergistic interactions: effects of two drugs are multiplied
  5. Antagonistic interactions: one drug counteracts the effect of another

Medication Classes

• Groupings of drugs based on their mechanism of action or therapeutic use
• Examples:
  1. Antibiotics: inhibit bacterial growth or kill bacteria
  2. Antihypertensives: lower blood pressure
  3. Analgesics: relieve pain
  4. Antidepressants: treat depression
  5. Anti-inflammatory drugs: reduce inflammation

Toxicology

• Study of the adverse effects of drugs and other substances on living organisms
• Types of toxicity:
  1. Acute toxicity: severe, immediate effects
  2. Chronic toxicity: long-term, cumulative effects
  3. Idiosyncratic toxicity: unpredictable, individual reactions
• Factors that influence toxicity:
  • Dose and duration of exposure
  • Individual variability and genetic differences
  • Presence of other substances that interact with the drug

Pharmacokinetics

• Pharmacokinetics is the study of how the body affects a drug
• Processes involved in pharmacokinetics include absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion
• Absorption: drug enters bloodstream
• Distribution: drug spread throughout body
• Metabolism: drug broken down by enzymes
• Excretion: drug eliminated from body
• Factors that influence pharmacokinetics include dose and route of administration, patient age, weight, and kidney/liver function, and food and other substances that interact with the drug

Pharmacodynamics

• Pharmacodynamics is the study of how a drug affects the body
• Mechanisms of action in pharmacodynamics include receptor binding, enzyme inhibition, and ion channel modulation
• Receptor binding: drug binds to specific receptors on cells
• Enzyme inhibition: drug blocks enzyme activity
• Ion channel modulation: drug affects ion flow across cell membranes
• Factors that influence pharmacodynamics include dose and concentration of the drug, patient genetics and individual variability, and presence of other diseases or conditions

Drug Interactions

• Drug interactions occur when one drug affects the action of another drug
• Types of interactions include pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, additive, synergistic, and antagonistic interactions
• Pharmacokinetic interactions: one drug affects another's absorption, distribution, metabolism, or excretion
• Pharmacodynamic interactions: one drug affects another's mechanism of action
• Additive interactions: effects of two drugs are added together
• Synergistic interactions: effects of two drugs are multiplied
• Antagonistic interactions: one drug counteracts the effect of another

Medication Classes

• Medication classes are groupings of drugs based on their mechanism of action or therapeutic use
• Examples of medication classes include antibiotics, antihypertensives, analgesics, antidepressants, and anti-inflammatory drugs
• Antibiotics inhibit bacterial growth or kill bacteria
• Antihypertensives lower blood pressure
• Analgesics relieve pain
• Antidepressants treat depression
• Anti-inflammatory drugs reduce inflammation

Toxicology

• Toxicology is the study of the adverse effects of drugs and other substances on living organisms
• Types of toxicity include acute toxicity, chronic toxicity, and idiosyncratic toxicity
• Acute toxicity: severe, immediate effects
• Chronic toxicity: long-term, cumulative effects
• Idiosyncratic toxicity: unpredictable, individual reactions
• Factors that influence toxicity include dose and duration of exposure, individual variability and genetic differences, and presence of other substances that interact with the drug

Learn about the fundamental concepts of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, including absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of drugs. Understand how patient factors and drug interactions influence drug effects.