Basic Principles of Pharmacology

These flashcards cover the foundational principles of pharmacology, drug nomenclature, legislation, development stages, pharmacokinetics (LADME), and various drug actions and interactions as presented in the lecture notes.

Pharmacology

The study of drugs and their actions or effects, derived from the Greek words pharmakon and logos.

Physiotherapy

A therapeutic method that uses water, light, and heat.

Psychotherapy

A therapeutic method that identifies stressors and methods used to reduce them.

Biologic therapy

A new class of drugs consisting of large, complex proteins manufactured in a living system that transform treatment for disorders attacking the body's own organs, tissues, and cells.

Chemical Name

The name most meaningful to the chemist, describing the exact chemical constitution of the drug and placement of atoms or molecular groupings.

Generic Name

The non-proprietary name of a drug, not capitalized, and used by formularies.

Official Name

The drug name listed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Brand or Trademark Name

The name registered by a manufacturer, which is capitalized.

Biosimilar

A biologic product that is close in structure and function to an existing approved biologic product.

The United States Pharmacopeia (USP) / National Formulary (NF)

The official source for American drug standards.

Electronic Databases

Common sources of drug information including CINAHL, Lexicomp, ePocrates, and DailyMed.

Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act

U.S. drug legislation passed in $1938$, and later amended in $1951$ and $1962$.

Controlled Substances Act ($1970$)

Legislation that defined five classifications or schedules of controlled substances based on abuse potential.

Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA)

The entity with which manufacturers, prescribers, and dispensers must register to handle scheduled medications.

Preclinical research and development

The first stage of new drug development, requiring an average of $18\text{ months}$.

Clinical research and development

The stage of drug development that may require $2$ to $10\text{ years}$, with an average of $5\text{ years}$.

Fast tracking

A process used to expedite drug development and approval for life-threatening illnesses.

Black box warning

An indication of a very serious life-threatening problem; there is a $20\text{\%}$ probability of a drug acquiring this or being withdrawn within $25\text{ years}$ of release.

Orphan drugs

Medicines developed for rare disorders, promoted by the Orphan Drug Act of $1983$.

Pharmacodynamics

The study of interactions between drugs and their receptors and the series of events that result in a pharmacologic response.

Agonists

Drugs that interact with a receptor to stimulate a response.

Antagonist

Drugs that attach to a receptor but do not stimulate a response.

Enteral route

Drug administration via the gastrointestinal tract by oral, rectal, or nasogastric routes.

Parenteral route

Drug administration that bypasses the GI tract using subcutaneous, intramuscular, or intravenous injection.

Percutaneous route

Drug absorption through the skin and mucous membranes, including inhalation, sublingual, or topical methods.

LADME

The acronym for the five drug stages after administration: Liberation, Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, and Excretion.

Metabolism

The process whereby the body inactivates drugs, primarily occurring in the liver.

Excretion

The elimination of drug metabolites or active drugs from the body, primarily via the kidneys.

Half-life Drug Calculation Example

For a $50\text{ mg}$ dose with a half-life of $6\text{ hours}$, there will be $3.13\text{ mg}$ remaining at $24\text{ hours}$.

Onset of action

When the concentration of a drug at the site of action is sufficient to start a physiologic response.

Peak action

The time at which a drug reaches the highest concentrations on the target receptor sites.

Duration of action

How long a drug has a pharmacologic effect.

Idiosyncratic reactions

Occur when something unusual or abnormal happens when a drug is first administered.

Allergic reactions

Occur in patients previously exposed to a drug whose immune systems have developed antibodies to it.

Additive effect

A drug interaction where two drugs with similar actions are taken for a combined effect.

Synergistic effect

A drug interaction where the combined effect of two drugs is greater than the sum of the effects of each drug given alone.

Antagonistic effect

Occurs when one drug interferes with the action of another, such as when a second drug decreases the effect of a narcotic.

Displacement

A drug interaction usually affecting the binding of a drug to an inactive site (like protein binding).

Incompatibility

The chemical or physical interaction between two or more drugs, often occurring prior to administration when drugs are mixed in the same syringe or IV solution.