Module 1

Pharmacology

Pharmacology

The science of the study of drugs including their compositions uses and effects

Drugs

Any chemical substance that has an effect on the physiological processes of an organism

Clinical Pharmacology

The science that focuses on the effects of drugs in the human body which includes both patients and well individuals

Therapeutics

A branch of medicine that deals specifically in the treatment of diseases

Oral

swallowed by mouth as a pill liquid tablet capsule or lozenge

Rectal

suppository inserted into the rectum

Intravenous

injection into vein with syringe or into intravenous (IV) line

Infusion

injected into vein with an IV line and slowly dripped in over time

Intramuscular

Injected into muscles through skin with a syringe

Subcutaneous

Injected into the subcutaneous area under the skin

Intradermal

Injected into the dermal layer of the skin just below the epidermis

Topical

Applied to skin (superficial level) such as lotions, moisturizers, creams, and ointments

Enteric

Delivery directly into the stomach with a G-tube or J-tube

Parenteral

All kinds of injection

Nasal

Sprays or pumps that deliver drug into the nose

Inhaled

Inhaled through a tube or mask (e.g. lung medications)

Otic

drops into the ear

Ophthalmic

Drops gel or ointment for the eyes

Sublingual

Dissolved under the tongue

Buccal

Held inside the cheek

Transdermal

A patch on the epidermal layer where the medication is being absorbed by the skin

Dosage

Refers to the amount of medication administered

Route

Refers to the route of medication administration

Timing

Refers to the frequency, intervals or timing of drug administration

Pharmaceutic Phase

The first phase for orally-administered drugs

• Necessary for it to take effect

• Oral medications are needed to be converted to a soluble liquid form to pass the semipermeable layer

Disintegration

Manual breakdown of tablets into smaller pieces

Dissolution

The process of dissolving smaller particles in the GIT before absorption

Excipients

Fillers and inert substances that take a particular size and shape which enhances the dissolution phase

Enteric Coated Medication

Medications that are intended to be dissolved in the small intestine (an area that is less acidic compared to the stomach)

Pharmacokinetic Phase

The second phase which determines what the body does to the drug

Determines how much of the administered dose gets to its site of action

Absorption

Movement of drug from the site of administration to the bloodstream

Passive Absorption

Drug movement across the membrane that does not require energy (e.g. diffusion)

Active Absorption

Drug movement that requires effort or a carrier (e.g. enzymes and different protein carriers) to move the drug against a concentration gradient

Bioavailability

A subcategory of absorption described as the percentage of the administered drug dose that reaches the systemic circulation (the proportion of the drug that reaches its site of action)

Distribution

The transport of a drug in the body by the bloodstream to its site of action for it to take effect

Process where drug becomes available to body fluids and body tissue

Metabolism

Process which involves the biologic transformation of a drug into an inactive metabolite in order for it to not be toxic (body inactivates or biotransforms drugs)

Half-Life

The time it takes for half of the drug concentration to be eliminated

This will determine the frequency of drug administration for you will be able to determine or compute the time it takes to reach a steady state serum concentration of the drug

Prodrugs

Compounds that are pharmacologically inactive when administered (no therapeutic effect), however, it undergoes conversion to its active form (increased therapeutic effect) via metabolism

Excretion

Process of removal of drug components in the body

Pharmacodynamic Phase

Science dealing with interactions between the chemical components of living systems and the foreign chemicals, including drugs that enter those systems

Study of biochemical and physiologic effects of drugs and the molecular mechanisms by which those effects are produced

Onset of Action

Time it takes to achieve the minimum effective concentration

Peak of Action

Time it takes for the drug concentration to reach its highest blood or plasma concentration

Minimum Toxic (Maximum Therapeutic Concentration)

Highest possible serum level of a medication that yields a therapeutic effect

Duration of Action

Length of time of the pharmacologic response

Therapeutic Range

• Range of drug levels in the blood of a patient in which the drug has desired effects upon the body

• Area between minimum effective concentration and maximum therapeutic/minimum toxic concentration

Therapeutic Index

A quantitative measurement on the relative safety of the drug being administered

Dose Response

Relationship between the minimal versus the maximal amount of drug dose needed to produce the desired drug response

Loading Dose

A large or significantly higher initial dose of the drug given to achieve a rapid minimum effective concentration (onset of action) in the serum concentration

Maximal Efficiency

Maximum response achievable from an applied or dosed agent

Primary/Desired Effect

When the therapeutic goal of the medication is achieved (the drug does what it is supposed to do)

Side/Secondary Effect

Any effect caused by the drug other than the intended therapeutic (primary) effect, which can either be beneficial or not

Adverse Effects

Pertains to more severe symptoms or problems that arise related to medication administration

Idiosyncratic Responses

Unexpected responses

Hypersensitivity/Allergic Reactions

An antibody-antigen reaction brought about by drug administration

Several reactions may manifest such as hives, rashes, pruritus or skin

Anaphylactic Shock

Unresolved allergic responses that are usually life threatening and may usually result to cardiac arrest or respiratory collapse

Addictive Effect

Two drugs with similar action are taken for a double effect

Synergistic Effect

Combined effect of the two drugs is greater than the sum effect if given alone

Antagonistic Effect

One drug contradicts/interferes with the effect of the other

Displacement

Displacement of one drug from the protein binding sites

A highly-protein bound drug, in the presence of a drug with a higher percentage of protein binding effects, is bumped off from the protein it is initially bound to

Interference

The first drug inhibits the metabolism of the other drug

Vital for penicillin-derivative antibiotics

Incompatibility

Deterioration on the drug potency if both drugs are given at the same time (both drugs will destroy each other)

Toxicology

The study of poisonous effects of drugs and the symptoms, mechanism, treatment, and detection of poisoning

Pharmacognosy

The study of physical and chemical properties of substance from natural sources or synthetic sources in order to develop drugs.