Pharmacology fundamentals

• Pharmacology examines the interactions of drugs with biological systems.
• Pharmacodynamics studies the effects of drugs on the body.
• Pharmacokinetics examines the movement of drugs within the body.
• Pharmacoengineering, pharmacotherapy, are subfields of pharmacology.

Bioavailability

• Bioavailability refers to the portion of a drug that reaches systemic circulation without chemical modification.

Distinguishing Drugs from Poisons

• According to Paracelsus, the dose distinguishes a drug from a poison.

Types of Treatment

• Radical, symptomatic, palliative, and prophylactic are all types of treatment.

Desired Drug Characteristics

• Selectivity and temporary and dose-dependent effects are all desired characteristics. A permanent effect is not always desired.

Natural Sources of Drugs

• Drugs can be derived from plants, animals, and microorganisms.

Lethal Dose

• The dose of a drug that causes death is called the lethal dose.

Diagnosis

• Diagnosis is described as identifying a disease.

Treatment

• Treatment is described as managing or curing a disease.

Pharmaceutical Forms

• Pastilles slowly dissolve in the mouth, providing a localized effect.
• Prepared forms of drugs like tablets and ampoules are called pharmaceutical forms.
• Enteric-coated tablets are designed to dissolve in the intestines.
• Enteric-coated tablets have a special coating to prevent dissolving in the stomach.
• A tablet placed between the cheek and gum is called a buccal tablet.
• Cylindrical gelatin shells that encase solid or liquid drugs form capsules.
• Small volume solutions used externally for the eyes, ears, or nose are called drops.

Drug Effectiveness

• The primary requirement for a drug to be effective in a specific location is achieving the minimum effective concentration (MEK).

Drug Administration

• When administering drugs, the amounts and application sites must be carefully determined.
• Routes of drug application are primarily divided into local and systemic categories.
• Drug and patient factors primarily influence the choice of drug administration route.
• Application is not a main process in pharmacokinetics, which includes absorption, distribution, and metabolism.

Drug absorption

• Drug absorption refers to the passage of drugs into the bloodstream.
• Intracutaneous, intrauterine, application on the conjunctiva, intranasal are local drug application routes, while transdermal is a systemic route.

Absorption Order

• The order of absorption from most to least is Solution > Emulsion > Suspension > Capsule > Tablet > Coated Tablet

Transport Methods

• Facilitated diffusion and active transport both require a carrier protein.

Pharmacokinetics Phases

• Toxicity is not one of the four main phases of pharmacokinetics. The main phases are absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination.

Bioavailability Definition

• The percentage of an active drug that reaches systemic circulation defines bioavailability.

Drug Elimination

• Drug elimination occurs during the excretion phase of pharmacokinetics.

Pharmacotherapy Branches

• Radical, symptomatic, palliative, and prophylactic treatments are branches of pharmacotherapy. Homeopathic treatment is not.

Drug Biotransformation

• Drug biotransformation mostly occurs in the liver.

Routes of Administration

• Intravenous, meaning into the vein, is not an enteral drug administration route. Enteral includes oral, sublingual, and rectal.
• Epidermal, meaning on the skin, is NOT a systemic drug administration route. Systemic routes include transdermal. intravenous, intraperitoneal, and subcutaneous.

Factors Affecting Drug Distribution

• Drug binding to plasma proteins is one of the most important factors affecting drug distribution.
• Drug color is not a factor affecting drug distribution in the body.
• Intravenous drug administration bypasses the gastrointestinal tract, a key advantage.
• Nebulizers are used to administer drugs via inhalation.

Therapeutic Index

• The therapeutic index is the ratio of a drug's therapeutic dose to its toxic dose.

Drug Elimination Mechanisms

• Storage in nerve cells is NOT a mechanism of drug elimination. Mechanisms of drug elimination include renal excretion.

Pharmacodynamics Focus

• Pharmacodynamics primarily focuses on what the drug does to the body.

Drug Circulation

• The drug enters circulation in the body during the absorption stage.

Pharmacokinetic Processes

• Receptor interaction is NOT a pharmacokinetic process

Cell Membrane Transport

• Active transport allows a drug to cross the cell membrane using energy.

Absorption Speed

• Solution is the fastest pharmaceutical form of absorption.

pH Environment

• Weak acidic drugs are better absorbed in an acidic pH environment.

Oral Drug Absorption

• An orally administered drug is mostly absorbed in the small intestine.

Drug Distribution

• Absorption rate does NOT affect drug distribution
• Factors affecting drug distribution are blood flow, plasma protein binding, lipid solubility, and cell membrane permeability.

Antagonist Drugs

• Antagonist drugs work by blocking receptors.

Agonist Drug

• Salbutamol is an example of an agonist drug.