Principles in Pharmacology Exam 2 Questions and
Answers Latest Top Rated 2025
Pharmacokinetics
how the body acts on the drug
Pharmacodynamics
How the drug affects the body
Drug effect
describes the change that takes place in the body as a result of the drug action
Drug action
molecular changes produced by a drug when it binds to a target site or receptor
Examples of Drug Action (benzodiazepines)
-enhance GABA binding opening Cl channels
-Cl rushes into the neuron through open channels
Examples of Drug effects (benzodiazepines)
-Cl influx causes hyperpolarization inhibiting neuronal activity
- reduces anxiety
Therapeutic effects
the drug-receptor interaction produces desired physical or behavioral changes
side effects
Any effects of a medication other than the desired ones.
What are drug effects dependent on?
dosage
What are the effects of a higher dose?
likely side effects
specific effects
drug effects of a drug that depend on the presence of the chemical at certain
concentrations in the target tissue
non-specific effects
Effects that are not caused by these targeted interactions (for example experience,
mood and expectation)
example of non specific effect
placebo effect
placebo effect
pharmacologically inactive substance produces significant therapeutic effect
main Factors of Pharmacokinetics
route of administration, absorption and distribution, binding characteristics inactivation,
and elimination
other factors of pharmacokinetics
drug structure, mixture, dose, bioavailability, life span in the system
What does the route of administration influence?
liberation, absorption, distribution, time of effect
What is the most popular method of drug delivery?
oral drug administration (PO)
Oral Drug administration abreviation
, PO
Problem with PO drugs
-drug must dissolve in the stomach and pass to the intestine to reach the body
- stomach acid is strong so drug must be in form to resist strong acid and enzymes
Where are a majority of PO drugs absorbed
proximal small intestine (1st ft)
What influences absorption and bioavailability of PO drugs?
food load, stomach acidity, first pass
What conditions/foods increase the amount of drug time in the stomach and
how?
-large amounts of food/fatty foods
- more stomach digestion so slow movement into the intestines (delayed action)
What is the acidity of the stomach?
pH 1.5- 2
What types of formulas protect drugs inactivated at low pH?
enteric-coated formulations
What types of formulas prevent the drug's increase in stomach acidity?
buffered fomulations
Where do PO drugs go after entering the bloodstream from the SI?
liver
What is done to drugs in the liver?
some of the drug is metabolized reducing the drug available
Results of the first pass effect?
concentration of PO drug rises slowly in blood and is irregular/unpredictable
Why is the first pass effect important?
it is a protective mechanism from ingested toxins and poisons
Intravenous drug administration (IV)
direct injection of drugs into veins
What is the benefit of IV method
-rapid and accurate delivery avoiding the stomach (no first pass metabolism
- quick effect
Why is IV dangerous?
-little room for correction
- illicit drugs can have toxic or insoluble fillers
- lack of sterilization can lead to disease (HIV, hepatitis, endocarditis)
Intramuscular drug administration (IM)
direct injection into muscle
What is the benefit of IM method
- rapid and accurate administration
Main types of IM drugs
water soluble or liquid soluble drugs
Water soluble drugs
- dissolved in aqueous solution like saline
Lipid soluble drugs
dissolved in non-aqueous solution (vegetable oil)
which type of IM drug is fast acting (released into blood fast)?
Answers Latest Top Rated 2025
Pharmacokinetics
how the body acts on the drug
Pharmacodynamics
How the drug affects the body
Drug effect
describes the change that takes place in the body as a result of the drug action
Drug action
molecular changes produced by a drug when it binds to a target site or receptor
Examples of Drug Action (benzodiazepines)
-enhance GABA binding opening Cl channels
-Cl rushes into the neuron through open channels
Examples of Drug effects (benzodiazepines)
-Cl influx causes hyperpolarization inhibiting neuronal activity
- reduces anxiety
Therapeutic effects
the drug-receptor interaction produces desired physical or behavioral changes
side effects
Any effects of a medication other than the desired ones.
What are drug effects dependent on?
dosage
What are the effects of a higher dose?
likely side effects
specific effects
drug effects of a drug that depend on the presence of the chemical at certain
concentrations in the target tissue
non-specific effects
Effects that are not caused by these targeted interactions (for example experience,
mood and expectation)
example of non specific effect
placebo effect
placebo effect
pharmacologically inactive substance produces significant therapeutic effect
main Factors of Pharmacokinetics
route of administration, absorption and distribution, binding characteristics inactivation,
and elimination
other factors of pharmacokinetics
drug structure, mixture, dose, bioavailability, life span in the system
What does the route of administration influence?
liberation, absorption, distribution, time of effect
What is the most popular method of drug delivery?
oral drug administration (PO)
Oral Drug administration abreviation
, PO
Problem with PO drugs
-drug must dissolve in the stomach and pass to the intestine to reach the body
- stomach acid is strong so drug must be in form to resist strong acid and enzymes
Where are a majority of PO drugs absorbed
proximal small intestine (1st ft)
What influences absorption and bioavailability of PO drugs?
food load, stomach acidity, first pass
What conditions/foods increase the amount of drug time in the stomach and
how?
-large amounts of food/fatty foods
- more stomach digestion so slow movement into the intestines (delayed action)
What is the acidity of the stomach?
pH 1.5- 2
What types of formulas protect drugs inactivated at low pH?
enteric-coated formulations
What types of formulas prevent the drug's increase in stomach acidity?
buffered fomulations
Where do PO drugs go after entering the bloodstream from the SI?
liver
What is done to drugs in the liver?
some of the drug is metabolized reducing the drug available
Results of the first pass effect?
concentration of PO drug rises slowly in blood and is irregular/unpredictable
Why is the first pass effect important?
it is a protective mechanism from ingested toxins and poisons
Intravenous drug administration (IV)
direct injection of drugs into veins
What is the benefit of IV method
-rapid and accurate delivery avoiding the stomach (no first pass metabolism
- quick effect
Why is IV dangerous?
-little room for correction
- illicit drugs can have toxic or insoluble fillers
- lack of sterilization can lead to disease (HIV, hepatitis, endocarditis)
Intramuscular drug administration (IM)
direct injection into muscle
What is the benefit of IM method
- rapid and accurate administration
Main types of IM drugs
water soluble or liquid soluble drugs
Water soluble drugs
- dissolved in aqueous solution like saline
Lipid soluble drugs
dissolved in non-aqueous solution (vegetable oil)
which type of IM drug is fast acting (released into blood fast)?
