General Principles of Pharmacology

General Properties of drugs

Two names generic and brand

Generic: identifies the drug no matter who the manufacturer is (facial tissue)

Trade: name given by manufacturer (kleenex)

Acetaminophen = generic

Tylenol = trade

General Properties of Drugs

drugs do not confer new functions on organs and tissues rather they;

attenuate, accentuate, replace a response

GPD

Drugs elicit multiple effects some are desired and others are classified as an undesirable response

Routes of drug administration

Enteral - administered through gastrointestinal tract (oral, rectal)

Parenteral - predominantly delivered through skin by injection (subcutaneous, intravenous, intramuscular, epidural)

Phases of Drug Effect: Pharmaceutical

how a drug progresses from the state in which it was administered (solid) is disintigrated and then is dissolved in solution (orally)

Pharmacokinetic

the effect of the body on the drug : how it is absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and excreted

bioavailability influenced by route of administration, inactive/bound state versus unbound stste , and half life

Pharmacodynamic

the effect of the drug molecules in the body

primary effect: planned or therapeutic effect

secondary effect: unwanted or side effects

Dose - response relationship

relationship between the amount of drug and the body’s response

maximal response or maximal efficacy

Exercise and Drug Absorption

blood redistribution during exercise is significant

can result in shunting of blood away from important drug absorption sites in the gastrointestinal system

blood flow during exercise is also redistributed to the skin ; important for patients with transdermal medications

Exercise and Drug metabolism

liver is the main organ responsible for metabolism of drugs

Pharmacotherapy

factors that modify a drug response or activity

age, body mass, gender, genetics, coexisting disease