Pharmacology Introduction and Drug Dynamics

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers introductory pharmacology concepts, including routes of administration, drug metabolism (biotransformation), dosage calculations, therapeutic indices, and the classification schedules of controlled substances.

Transdermal Therapeutic System

A drug delivery method using a patch to provide systemic effects by attaching to the body.

Sublingually

A method of drug administration under the tongue.

Intraethically

A route of drug administration that goes directly into the spine.

SOA

The Site of Action, or the location where the drug proceeds to perform its function.

Extracellularly

A site of action occurring just outside the surface of the cell.

Cellularly

A site of action occurring within the membrane of the cell.

Intracellularly

A site of action occurring inside the cell.

Biotransformation

The metabolism of a drug, primarily occurring in the liver, which acts as a filter and breakdown system.

Phase one drugs

Metabolic reactions involving the conversion of drugs to more ionized molecules.

Phase two reactions

Synthetic metabolic reactions in which new compounds are introduced to chemically altered drugs.

Dose

The amount of drug given to the patient each individual time.

Dosage

The total amount of drug administered over a specified course of time.

Therapeutic Index

The margin of safety of a drug, calculated by comparing undesirable effects against the desired therapeutic response.

$$ED_{50}$$

The effective dose per $50$% of the population.

$$LD_{50}$$

The lethal dose per $50$% of the population, also referred to as the legal dose per half.

Peak effect time

The point in the time response curve when the drug has optimally activated all available receptors.

Loading dose

A large initial dose used to shrink the latency period by greatly increasing the drug concentration in the system.

First pass effect

Biotransformation of a drug that occurs after oral administration but before the drug reaches general circulation.

Acute toxic effect

A negative response to a drug that occurs within minutes to hours after exposure.

Chronic toxic effect

A toxicity occurring over months to years where the rate of exposure exceeds the rate of elimination.

Schedule I drugs

Substances with a high probability for abuse, no therapeutic usage, and no safety controls (e.g., heroin, LSD, mushroom extracts).

Schedule II drugs

Substances with a high probability for abuse and close restrictions, but with some accepted therapeutic use (e.g., morphine, methadone, amphetamines).

Schedule V drugs

Substances with the lowest potential for abuse and dependency within the United States scheduled drug system.

GFR

The glomerular filtration rate, used by the kidneys to determine the rate of drug clearance or elimination.