Module 1 Definitions

Pharmacology

The study of how chemical substances interact & modulate living systems

Pharmacokinetics

What the body does to a drug (ADME)

Pharmacodynamics

What the drug does to the body

Pharmacogenetics

How the genetic make up affects the effects of a drug

Pharmacotherapeutics

How drugs are clinically used

Toxicology

Toxic/adverse effects of drugs

Drug

Any substance that interacts and modulates a living system

Agonist

Drug that activates biologic response

Antagonist

Drug that inhibits biologic response

Drug target

Molecule that the drug will interact with

Assay development

A test to find out if a drug works

In vitro

Made up

In vivo

Living animals

Ex vivo

Tissue taken from living animal, take it out, test on it

Lead compound

The first compound we find that has the activity that we want (rarely makes it to trial)

Structure-Activity Relationships (SARs)

Optimize lead compound

Molecular docking

Crystal structures of many proteins known; program calculates chemical attraction

Chemical name

Chemical structure

Generic/non-proprietary name

Chemical or pharmacological class

Proprietary/trade name

Marketing name

Biologics

More complex; less readily characterized substances typically manufactured in a living system

Schedule I

High abuse potential; no accepted medical use; can't be prescribed

Schedule II

High abuse potential; can be prescribed by written script; no refills

Schedule III

Moderate abuse potential; 5 refills within 6 months

Schedule IV

Low abuse potential; 5 refills within 6 months

Schedule V

Lowest abuse potential

Examples of Schedule I

LSD, marijuana, heroin

Examples of Schedule II

morphine, amphetamines, high dose codeine

Examples of Schedule III

ketamine, low dose codeine

Examples of Schedule IV

benzodiazepines

Examples of Schedule V

diphenoxylate