Questions and Answers
What is the difference between therapeutic and pharmacologic classifications?
Therapeutic classification organizes drugs based on their usefulness in treating diseases, while pharmacologic classification refers to how an agent works at the molecular, tissue, and body system levels.
Identify the following classifications as therapeutic or pharmacologic: beta-adrenergic blocker, oral contraceptive, laxative, folic acid antagonist, and antianginal drug.
What is a prototype drug, and how does it differ from other drugs in the same class?
Prototype drugs exhibit typical features of their class, helping to anticipate the actions and adverse effects of other drugs in that class.
Explain why a patient might seek treatment from an OTC drug instead of a more effective prescription drug.
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What advantages does substituting a generic-equivalent drug for a trade-name medication have for the patient?
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What disadvantages might be caused by the switch from a trade-name medication to a generic-equivalent drug?
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Study Notes
Therapeutic vs. Pharmacologic Classifications
- Therapeutic classification organizes drugs based on their usefulness in treating specific diseases.
- Pharmacologic classification explains how an agent works on a molecular, tissue, and body system level.
- Examples of classifications:
- Beta-adrenergic blocker: Pharmacologic
- Oral contraceptive: Therapeutic
- Laxative: Therapeutic
- Folic acid antagonist: Pharmacologic
- Antianginal drug: Therapeutic
Prototype Drug
- A prototype drug is a standard representative of a specific class of drugs.
- Understanding the prototype helps anticipate the actions and side effects of other drugs within that class.
OTC vs. Prescription Drugs
- Patients may choose OTC drugs for convenience, cost savings, and accessibility, despite potentially seeking more effective prescription medications.
Generic-Equivalent Drugs
- Generic drugs can be substituted for trade-name medications unless restricted by a negative formulary or a prescriber/patient request.
- Advantages of substitution:
- Cost savings for patients.
- Consistent naming across manufacturers.
- Disadvantages may arise due to variations in inert ingredients, potentially impacting drug efficacy and target cell accessibility.
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Description
Test your knowledge on the differences between therapeutic and pharmacologic classifications of drugs with these flashcards from Chapter 1. Identify various classifications like beta-adrenergic blockers and antianginal drugs. Enhance your understanding of drug use in treating diseases.