Basic Pharmacology
Basic Pharmacology
Basic Pharmacology
PHARMACOLOGY
Prepared By: Cristina Benito
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
United States.
4. Describe how body cells respond to the presence of drugs that are capable
Advantages:
Quality can be controlled
Process is easier and cheaper
More potent and safer
Large scale production
SYNTHETIC DRUGS
AMOXICILLIN
MARIJUANA (cannabis)
Active ingredient delta-9-tetra hydrocannabinol
Drug Names
Prescription Drugs:
MUST: Be prescribed by a doctor
Bought at a pharmacy
Prescribed for and intended to be used by one person
Drug Evaluation:
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA): an agency of the U.S.
Department of Health and Human services that regulates the
development and sale of drugs.
STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT:
a.) Preclinical Trials:
Subject: Animals
FDA: reviews extensive animal studies and data on the safety and
effectiveness of the proposed drugs.
Chemicals that may have therapeutic value are tested on laboratory
animals for two main purposes:
1. determine whether they have the presumed effects in living tissue
2. evaluate any adverse effects
ENTERAL
a. Absorption is rapid in small intestine
b. Presence of food often diminishes absorption
c. Absence of food may increase absorption
d. Liquids absorb more rapidly than solid
e. Absorption occurs within 3 to 5 minutes with sublingual or
buccal administration
f. Absorption from the GI tract may be undependable
Comparison of Drug Administration Routes and their
Effects on Absorption
PARENTERAL
a. IM injection has effects within 10 to 15 minutes
b. IV route requires no absorption and has immediate effects
c. Poor circulation may hinder IM or SC absorption
d. Shock, edema, trauma, and coolness of tissue slow
absorption
Comparison of Drug Administration Routes and their
Effects on Absorption
TOPICAL
INHALATION:
MUCOUS MEMBRANE:
a. Sites of action (receptor sites): Where the drug attaches and exerts
its effect
Example: Narcotic drug (Codein)- endorphin receptor site of the neurons
of our brain (receptor site)
Antihistamine (alegra): bind to histamine receptor site.
a. b. Inactive sites (acceptor sites): Where the drugs accumulates but
with no effect on that part of the body.
Example: Tetracycline: tends to accumulate in bone and teeth.
Factors affecting drug distribution:
a. Blood Flow
Drug is distributed rapidly to organs with a large blood supply.
It is distributed more gradually to other internal organs, skin, fat and
muscle.
Example: A diabetic client with lower leg infection and patient with
peripheral arterial disease (Raynaud Syndrome)
b. Drug Solubility
> a lipid soluble drug can cross the cell membrane more quickly than
water soluble drugs can.
FACTORS AFFECTING DRUG DISTRIBUTION
c. Protein-Binding Capability: refers to the degree to which medications
attach to proteins within the blood. (plasma protein albumin)
Some drugs are tightly bound and are released very slowly thus they
have a very long duration of action because they are not free to be
broken down or excreted
Drugs that are loosely bound tend to act quickly and be excreted
quickly.
FACTORS AFFECTING DRUG DISTRIBUTION
d. Blood-Brain Barrier: A protective system of cellular activity that keeps
many things away from the CNS.
• Drugs that are highly lipid soluble are more likely to pass through the
blood-brain barrier and reach the CNS
• Drugs that are not lipid soluble are not able to pass the blood-brain
barrier.
III. Metabolism/Biotransformation:
• It alters a drug to a more active or less active form
• Helps convert the drug to a more water soluble form, facilitating
excretion
• Primary Site for drug metabolism: Liver
• other site: plasma, kidneys, and membranes of the intestines
• First pass effect: Inactivation of drug by enzymes in the liver before
the drug reaches the systemic circulation for distribution.
• large number of oral drugs are rendered inactive by hepatic metabolic
reactions.
FACTORS AFFECTING DRUG METABOLISM
Age:
Infants: not fully developed liver
Elderly: a decline in liver size, blood flow, and enzyme production that
can also slow metabolism.
Disease, such as cirrhosis and heart failure:
1. reduction in the dosage of the drugs.
2. frequent monitoring for adverse drug effects.
If the liver is not functioning effectively, the drug will not be
metabolized as it should be, and toxic levels could develop rather
quickly.
Genetics
IV. Excretion: Elimination of drugs from the body
Routes Of Excretion:
Kidneys via urine: Check kidney function test (BUN and Serum
Creatinine Level)
Toxicity (blood level of the drug will increase)
Liver via bile and into feces
Lungs via exhaled air
Saliva, sweat, and tears
Processes by which a drug is handled by the Body
ONSET, PEAK, AND DURATION
Onset of Action: refers to the time period from a
drug’s administration to the beginning of its
therapeutic effect.
Peak Level: occurs when the body absorbs more
drug, the level rises in the blood, and more drug
reaches the site of action.
Duration of Action: the length of time a drug
produces therapeutic effects.
Minimum effective concentration: Plasma drug level below which
therapeutic effects will not occur.
Drug must be present in concentrations at or above MEC for it be
beneficial.