Pharmacology Basics Quiz

Study Notes

Pharmacology

The study of drugs, their sources, actions in diseases, and effects on living organisms.
A drug is a substance used for diagnosis, cure, or disease prevention.
Pharmacy is the science of drug preparation.
Drugs cannot change function, they only increase, decrease, or correct it.

Sources of Drugs

Plant-derived: Morphine, atropine
Animal-derived: Insulin
Microorganism-derived: Penicillin
Synthetic: Aspirin, sulfa drugs
Mineral-derived: Kaolin, liquid paraffin

Drug Action in the Body

Interactions of drugs with blood or tissue modify existing functions.

Types of Drug Action

Local action: Action at the site of application, like antiseptics.
Systemic action: Drug is absorbed and reaches distant organs for action, like penicillin in pneumonia.
Reflex action: Effects seen at different sites, like ammonia inhalation stimulating the brain.

Factors Affecting Drug Action

Dose: Too little has no effect, too much is toxic.
Age: Children are sensitive to CNS drugs but tolerate antibiotics better. They need lower doses than adults.
Body surface area: Chemotherapeutic agents are dosed based on body surface area.
Presence of other drugs: Ephedrine with aminophylline has a stronger effect in asthma.
Other factors: Genetics, emotions, metabolism, and drug tolerance.

Forms of Drugs

Internal use: Pills, tablets, capsules, spansules
External use: Ointment, pastes, creams, jellies
Internal or external use: Liquids (mixtures, suspensions, emulsions)
External use: Lotions, liniments
Injectable: Powders with distilled water, liquids in ampoules and vials (single or multidose).

Drug Administration Routes

Local: Applied directly to the affected area.
Oral:
- Sublingual: Chewing or direct absorption under the tongue.
- Swallowing: Tablets, capsules, etc.
Inhalation: Used for anesthetic drugs and steam inhalation.
Instillation: Liquids in drops, used in body cavities or orifices like ears, nose, and eyes.
Injection:
- Ampoules: Single dose.
- Vials: Multiple doses.
- Bottles: For normal saline (NS) and dextrose normal saline (DNS) infusions.
- Intradermal: Injected into the skin, like BCG vaccine.
- Subcutaneous: Injected between the skin and muscle, like measles vaccine.
- Intramuscular: Injected into the muscle, like B-complex and T.T. injections.
- Intravenous: Injected into the vein, like aminophylline, deriphylline, and IV fluids for dehydration.
Enema: Medication administered rectally as a suppository.

Description

Test your knowledge on the fundamentals of pharmacology, including the sources of drugs, their actions in the body, and various types of drug effects. This quiz will help you understand how drugs interact with living organisms and the factors that influence their efficacy.