pharmacology

The study of how a drug affects the body and the interactions between its chemical components.

Pharmacodynamics

The study of how the body acts on a drug.

Pharmacokinetics

Substances that interfere with the functioning of foreign cells.

Chemotherapeutic agents

Specific areas in the body that react with certain chemicals.

Receptor sites

Substances that cause the same activity as natural chemicals.

Agonist

Binds to the same receptor as an agonist, preventing the agonist from binding.

Competitive antagonist

Binds to different receptor sites but still prevents the agonist from binding.

Non-competitive antagonist

Hom binding

Binding of a drug to its target receptor.

The duration of time it takes for a drug's effect to become prominent.

Onset of drug action

The time it takes for a drug to be reduced to half of its original concentration.

Half-life

The highest level of medication in the body.

Peak effect

The length of time a drug remains effective.

Duration

The process of a drug being introduced to the body until it reaches the circulating fluid.

Absorption

The movement of a drug to the body tissues.

Distribution

The process of a drug being broken down and transformed by the body.

Metabolism

The removal of a drug from the body.

Excretion

The amount of a drug needed to produce a therapeutic effect.

critical concentration

A higher dose than what is usually used for treatment.

Loading dose

A state where the rate of drug absorption equals the rate of drug elimination.

Dynamic Equilibrium

Affects the effective concentration of a drug at its site of action by changing its binding to proteins.

Protein-binding factor

The dosage of a drug that reaches the systemic circulation and is available to act on the body.

Bioavailability

A protective membrane of the central nervous system.

BBB (Blood-Brain Barrier)

The circulation of drugs between the liver and the intestines.

Enterohepatic circulation

Intracellular structures in the liver involved in drug metabolism.

Hepatic microsomal system

The process of a chemical inducing the production of enzymes involved in drug metabolism.

Enzyme induction

The ability of a substance to cause damage to the liver.

Hepatotoxicity