Principles of Pharmacology and Terminology (Vocabulary Flashcards)

Vocabulary flashcards covering key pharmacology concepts from the notes.

The science that studies how drugs interact with living organisms to affect biological functions.

Pharmacology

System for naming drugs that differentiates chemical, generic, and brand (proprietary) names.

Drug nomenclature

Standardized active ingredient name assigned by the International Nonproprietary Name (INN) system for universal use.

Generic name

Commercial or proprietary name given by a manufacturer; trademarked.

Brand name

Chemical name

IUPAC-style name describing the molecular structure of a drug; usually long and not used in practice.

Global, standardized drug name overseen by the WHO for universal identification.

INN (International Non-proprietary Name)

Core pharmacokinetic processes: Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion.

ADME

Movement of a drug from its site of administration into the systemic circulation.

Absorption

Dispersion of a drug throughout the body's fluids and tissues after absorption.

Distribution

Biochemical modification of drugs, mainly in the liver, often via CYP enzymes.

Metabolism

Elimination of drugs from the body, primarily through kidneys; also via bile, lungs, etc.

Excretion

Fraction of administered dose that reaches systemic circulation unchanged.

Bioavailability

Liver metabolism of an oral drug before it enters systemic circulation.

First-pass metabolism

An inactive or less active compound that is converted into an active drug in the body.

Prodrug

Pathways to deliver drugs (oral, sublingual, IV, etc.) that affect absorption.

Routes of administration

Affinity for lipids; usually correlates with ability to cross membranes and distribute into fat.

Lipophilicity

Affinity for water; water-soluble; influences distribution and excretion.

Hydrophilicity

Physiological barrier that restricts drug entry into the brain; favors small, lipophilic molecules.

Blood-brain barrier

Family of liver enzymes that metabolize many drugs and influence drug interactions.

CYP450

Initial metabolic reactions (oxidation, reduction, hydrolysis) often by CYP enzymes.

Phase I metabolism

Conjugation reactions increasing water solubility (glucuronidation, sulfation, etc.).

Phase II metabolism

Phase II conjugation adding glucuronic acid to drugs via UDP-glucuronosyltransferases.

Glucuronidation

Phase II conjugation adding sulfate via sulfotransferases.

Sulfation

Phase II conjugation adding an acetyl group via N-acetyltransferases.

Acetylation

Phase II conjugation adding a methyl group via methyltransferases.

Methylation

Phase II reaction attaching glutathione via glutathione S-transferases.

Glutathione conjugation

Theoretical value describing how extensively a drug distributes into body tissues.

Volume of distribution (Vd)

Drugs may bind to plasma proteins; only unbound drug is free to act or be cleared.

Protein binding

Time for the drug concentration in blood to fall by 50%; influences dosing and duration.

Half-life

Drugs with a small margin between therapeutic and toxic doses requiring careful dosing.

Narrow therapeutic index (NTI)

A condition or situation where use of a drug is not advised due to harm risk.

Contraindication

Treatment that must be avoided because risks far outweigh benefits.

Absolute contraindication

Treatment that may be used with caution when benefits outweigh risks.

Relative contraindication

Official prescribing information detailing safe and effective drug use.

Drug insert

A drug that activates a receptor to produce a biological response.

Agonist

A drug that blocks receptor activity, preventing a response.

Antagonist

Activates a receptor but produces a weaker, partial response.

Partial agonist

Reduces receptor activity below its baseline level.

Inverse agonist

Receptor theory

Concept that drugs exert effects by binding to receptors and modulating activity.

Molecule that binds to a receptor (drug, hormone, etc.).

Ligand

A protein that binds ligands to initiate a biological response.

Receptor

The bound form of a receptor and ligand that leads to a cellular response.

Drug-receptor complex

Relationship between drug dose and magnitude of the physiological response.

Dose-response

What the drug does to the body; study of drug effects, receptors, and mechanisms.

Pharmacodynamics

What the body does to the drug; study of ADME processes.

Pharmacokinetics

Measuring drug levels to guide dosing, especially for NTI drugs.

Therapeutic drug monitoring

Physiological changes in older adults that alter drug response and safety.

Age-related pharmacodynamics

Distinct pediatric pharmacodynamics due to immature receptors and enzymes.

Infant pharmacodynamics