ADVANCED PHARMACOLOGY
COMPREHENSIVE TEST QUESTIONS
AND SOLUTIONS SET 2
⩥ Pharmacodynamics. Answer: study of the biochemical and
physiologic effects of drugs on the body
Think Dynamic (change)
majority of drugs either
(a) mimic or inhibit normal physiological/biochemical processes or
inhibit pathological processes in animals or
(b) inhibit vital processes of endo- or ectoparasites and microbial
organisms
⩥ Summarize the main drug actions. Answer: 1 - stimulating action
through direct receptor agonism and downstream effects
2 - depressing action through direct receptor agonism and downstream
effects (ex.: inverse agonist)
3- blocking/antagonizing action (as with silent antagonists), the drug
binds the receptor but does not activate it
4- stabilizing action, the drug seems to act neither as a stimulant or as a
depressant
,5- exchanging/replacing substances or accumulating them to form a
reserve (ex.: glycogen storage)
⩥ Desired activity is achieved through what main mechanisms?.
Answer: -Cellular membrane disruption
-Chemical reaction with downstream effects
-Interaction with enzyme proteins
-Interaction with structural proteins
-Interaction with carrier proteins
-Interaction with ion channels
-Ligand binding to receptors: 1)Hormone receptors 2) Neuromodulator
receptors 3)Neurotransmitter receptors
⩥ Explain the therapeutic window. Answer: therapeutic window is the
amount of a medication between the amount that gives an effect
(effective dose) and the amount that gives more adverse effects than
desired effects
⩥ Duration of action. Answer: duration of action of a drug is the length
of time that particular drug is effective
⩥ Explain bioavailability. Answer: drug's bioavailability can be defined
as the proportion of the drug that reaches its site of action
,⩥ 6 rights to medication administration. Answer: RIGHT CLIENT
RIGHT MEDICATION
RIGHT DOSAGE
RIGHT ROUTE
RIGHT TIME
RIGHT DOCUMENTATION
⩥ Potency. Answer: potency is a measure of drug activity expressed in
terms of the amount required to produce an effect of given intensity
(more morphine is needed to give the same effects as fentanyl)
⩥ Efficacy. Answer: Efficacy is the relationship between receptor
occupancy and the ability to initiate a response at the molecular, cellular,
tissue or system level. In other words, efficacy refers to how well an
action is took after the drug is bound to a receptor
⩥ Affinity. Answer: Affinity is how well a drug can bind to a receptor
(Fast/strong binding = higher affinity)
⩥ Benzodiazepine MOA. Answer: Act on GABA which is a major
inhibitory NTM in the CNS; Effects are produced by interacting with a
protein complex with in the neuronal membrane GABA which has a
high 'affinity' for benzo's specifically;
, Inhibition of polysynaptic afferent pathways resulting in skeletal muscle
relaxation; It decreases the spread of seizure activity due to an increased
pre-synaptic inhibition of the CNS
⩥ Benzodiazepine uses/indications. Answer: Similar actions however
different doses/concentrations/combinations produce different actions
thus have different uses
Anxiety/panic disorders
skeletal muscle relaxation
seizures
sedation for procedures (due to relaxation and amnesic properties)
⩥ Benzodiazepines adverse effects. Answer: Most derived through CNS
actions; Ataxia, dizziness, drowsiness/sedation, blurred vision, hypnosis,
weakness, fatigue
More severe: hypersensitivity, mental depression, hypotension,
paradoxical stimulation, rebound seizures
⩥ Benzo pharmacokinetics. Answer: Widely distributed throughout the
body
accumulate in lipid rich areas (CNS and adipose tissue)
the more lipophilic the agent the faster it is absorbed
Onset 30 min- 1 hr lasting 4-6 hours, peak at 1-2 hours
COMPREHENSIVE TEST QUESTIONS
AND SOLUTIONS SET 2
⩥ Pharmacodynamics. Answer: study of the biochemical and
physiologic effects of drugs on the body
Think Dynamic (change)
majority of drugs either
(a) mimic or inhibit normal physiological/biochemical processes or
inhibit pathological processes in animals or
(b) inhibit vital processes of endo- or ectoparasites and microbial
organisms
⩥ Summarize the main drug actions. Answer: 1 - stimulating action
through direct receptor agonism and downstream effects
2 - depressing action through direct receptor agonism and downstream
effects (ex.: inverse agonist)
3- blocking/antagonizing action (as with silent antagonists), the drug
binds the receptor but does not activate it
4- stabilizing action, the drug seems to act neither as a stimulant or as a
depressant
,5- exchanging/replacing substances or accumulating them to form a
reserve (ex.: glycogen storage)
⩥ Desired activity is achieved through what main mechanisms?.
Answer: -Cellular membrane disruption
-Chemical reaction with downstream effects
-Interaction with enzyme proteins
-Interaction with structural proteins
-Interaction with carrier proteins
-Interaction with ion channels
-Ligand binding to receptors: 1)Hormone receptors 2) Neuromodulator
receptors 3)Neurotransmitter receptors
⩥ Explain the therapeutic window. Answer: therapeutic window is the
amount of a medication between the amount that gives an effect
(effective dose) and the amount that gives more adverse effects than
desired effects
⩥ Duration of action. Answer: duration of action of a drug is the length
of time that particular drug is effective
⩥ Explain bioavailability. Answer: drug's bioavailability can be defined
as the proportion of the drug that reaches its site of action
,⩥ 6 rights to medication administration. Answer: RIGHT CLIENT
RIGHT MEDICATION
RIGHT DOSAGE
RIGHT ROUTE
RIGHT TIME
RIGHT DOCUMENTATION
⩥ Potency. Answer: potency is a measure of drug activity expressed in
terms of the amount required to produce an effect of given intensity
(more morphine is needed to give the same effects as fentanyl)
⩥ Efficacy. Answer: Efficacy is the relationship between receptor
occupancy and the ability to initiate a response at the molecular, cellular,
tissue or system level. In other words, efficacy refers to how well an
action is took after the drug is bound to a receptor
⩥ Affinity. Answer: Affinity is how well a drug can bind to a receptor
(Fast/strong binding = higher affinity)
⩥ Benzodiazepine MOA. Answer: Act on GABA which is a major
inhibitory NTM in the CNS; Effects are produced by interacting with a
protein complex with in the neuronal membrane GABA which has a
high 'affinity' for benzo's specifically;
, Inhibition of polysynaptic afferent pathways resulting in skeletal muscle
relaxation; It decreases the spread of seizure activity due to an increased
pre-synaptic inhibition of the CNS
⩥ Benzodiazepine uses/indications. Answer: Similar actions however
different doses/concentrations/combinations produce different actions
thus have different uses
Anxiety/panic disorders
skeletal muscle relaxation
seizures
sedation for procedures (due to relaxation and amnesic properties)
⩥ Benzodiazepines adverse effects. Answer: Most derived through CNS
actions; Ataxia, dizziness, drowsiness/sedation, blurred vision, hypnosis,
weakness, fatigue
More severe: hypersensitivity, mental depression, hypotension,
paradoxical stimulation, rebound seizures
⩥ Benzo pharmacokinetics. Answer: Widely distributed throughout the
body
accumulate in lipid rich areas (CNS and adipose tissue)
the more lipophilic the agent the faster it is absorbed
Onset 30 min- 1 hr lasting 4-6 hours, peak at 1-2 hours
