ADVANCED PHARMACOLOGY
EXAMINATION WITH CORRECT
ANSWERS
Explain Pharmacokinetics - ANSWER-The study of how drugs are moved through
the body and are encompassed in mechanisms of:
Absorption
Distribution
Metabolism
Excretion
Think Kinetic (movement)
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
IV Admin: onset 1-5 min, peak immediately, last 15-20 min
EXAMINATION WITH CORRECT
ANSWERS
Explain Pharmacokinetics - ANSWER-The study of how drugs are moved through
the body and are encompassed in mechanisms of:
Absorption
Distribution
Metabolism
Excretion
Think Kinetic (movement)
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
IV Admin: onset 1-5 min, peak immediately, last 15-20 min
