ADVANCED PHARMACOLOGY
PHARMACODYNAMICS EXAM
QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT ANSWERS
Efficacy - Answer -The maximum possible effect relative to other agents. It is indicated
by the peak of the dose-response curve. Potency is NOT equal to this.
Potency - Answer-The relative strength of response for a given dose of medication.
Effective concentration (EC50) - Answer-This is the concentration of an agonist needed
to elicit half of the maximum biological response of the agonist. The potency of an
agonist is inversely related to this value.
Partial agonist - Answer-A drug that binds to a receptor (usually at the agonist site)
where it activates the receptor but not as much as a full agonist.
Inverse agonist - Answer-A drug that binds to the same receptor as an agonist, but
causes the opposite action.
Tolerance (desensitization) - Answer-A decreased response to the same dose with
repeated (continuous) exposure or more drug is needed to achieve the same effect.
This is caused by compensatory mechanisms that oppose the effects of the drug,
sometimes occurs in an acute dose (e.g., alcohol), and can develop across drugs.
Causes a rightward shift in the dose-response curve.
Sensitization - Answer-An increased response to the same dose with repeated (binge-
like) exposure or less drug is needed to achieve the same effect. Sometimes occurs in
an acute dose (e.g., amphetamines) and can develop across drugs. Causes a leftward
shift in the dose-response curve.
Pharmacokinetic - Answer-The mechanism of tolerance and sensitization that occurs
with changes in drug availability at the site of action (decreased bioavailability), which
leads to decreased absorption, increased binding to depot sites, and the user being
able to metabolize and excrete the drug more quickly due to repeated exposure.
Pharmacodynamic - Answer-The mechanism of tolerance and sensitization that occurs
with changes in the drug-receptor interaction such as G-protein uncoupling and down
regulation of receptors.
Psychological - Answer-The mechanism of tolerance and sensitization in which the user
becomes familiar with the drug's effects and learns tricks to hide or counteract the
effects. Set (expectations) and setting (environment), motivational, habituation, classical
and instrumental conditioning (automatic physiological change in response to cues).
PHARMACODYNAMICS EXAM
QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT ANSWERS
Efficacy - Answer -The maximum possible effect relative to other agents. It is indicated
by the peak of the dose-response curve. Potency is NOT equal to this.
Potency - Answer-The relative strength of response for a given dose of medication.
Effective concentration (EC50) - Answer-This is the concentration of an agonist needed
to elicit half of the maximum biological response of the agonist. The potency of an
agonist is inversely related to this value.
Partial agonist - Answer-A drug that binds to a receptor (usually at the agonist site)
where it activates the receptor but not as much as a full agonist.
Inverse agonist - Answer-A drug that binds to the same receptor as an agonist, but
causes the opposite action.
Tolerance (desensitization) - Answer-A decreased response to the same dose with
repeated (continuous) exposure or more drug is needed to achieve the same effect.
This is caused by compensatory mechanisms that oppose the effects of the drug,
sometimes occurs in an acute dose (e.g., alcohol), and can develop across drugs.
Causes a rightward shift in the dose-response curve.
Sensitization - Answer-An increased response to the same dose with repeated (binge-
like) exposure or less drug is needed to achieve the same effect. Sometimes occurs in
an acute dose (e.g., amphetamines) and can develop across drugs. Causes a leftward
shift in the dose-response curve.
Pharmacokinetic - Answer-The mechanism of tolerance and sensitization that occurs
with changes in drug availability at the site of action (decreased bioavailability), which
leads to decreased absorption, increased binding to depot sites, and the user being
able to metabolize and excrete the drug more quickly due to repeated exposure.
Pharmacodynamic - Answer-The mechanism of tolerance and sensitization that occurs
with changes in the drug-receptor interaction such as G-protein uncoupling and down
regulation of receptors.
Psychological - Answer-The mechanism of tolerance and sensitization in which the user
becomes familiar with the drug's effects and learns tricks to hide or counteract the
effects. Set (expectations) and setting (environment), motivational, habituation, classical
and instrumental conditioning (automatic physiological change in response to cues).
