IPSP Unit 1 Student Study Guide 2024-25 FINAL

Pharmacodynamics

The study of the effects of drugs on the body, specifically how a drug acts on its target to produce a biological effect.

Pharmacokinetics

The study of how the body handles drugs over time, encompassing the processes of absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME).

Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs)

Unintended, harmful reactions that occur at normal doses of a drug, which can vary in severity and type among different patients.

On-target side effects

Side effects that occur due to a drug's intended mechanism of action on its target receptors.

Off-target side effects

Side effects that occur due to the drug acting on unintended targets that are not its primary site of action.

Bioavailability

The proportion of a drug that enters the circulation when introduced into the body and is available for action.

Half-life

The time it takes for the concentration of a drug in the bloodstream to reduce to half its original value.

Drug interactions

Changes in the effect of a drug when taken together with another drug, food, or substance.

Patient adherence

The extent to which a patient’s behavior corresponds with agreed recommendations from a healthcare provider.

Prescribing Governance

Ensuring safety and accountability in issuing medication prescriptions to patients.

Therapeutic Drug Monitoring (TDM)

The clinical practice of measuring specific drugs at designated intervals to maintain a constant concentration in a patient's bloodstream, optimizing their effectiveness and minimizing toxicity.