Lecture notes from Imperial College London, Medical Biosciences BSc, 2nd year, pharmacology module.
Phar 1 module on introduction to pharmacology with pharmacodynamics:
learning outcomes:
- LO1 Pharmacodynamics: Define what is meant by a ‘drug’ and a ‘drug target site’.
- LO2 T...
Intro to Pharmacodynamics
- Pharmacology: how chemical agents (drugs) influence the function of living systems
- Physiology: how the different body systems function picks the
drug
- Pharmacodynamics: what the drug does to the body
~
- Pharmacokinetics: what the body does to the drug &
---
Drug targets
- drugs bind to a specific target (proteins): their activation can be enhanced or blocked
=> receptors (ex: nicotine binds and activates nicotinic acetylcholine receptor)
=> enzymes (ex: aspirin binds cyclooxygenase and blocks production of prostaglandins)
=> ion channels (ex: anaesthetics block sodium ion channels: prevent nerve conduction)
=> carrier proteins (ex: anti-depressant Prozac blocks serotonin carrier proteins)
Specificity (selectivity)
- drug is an effective therapeutic agent IF high degree of specificity for target (lock/key analogy)
- structural similarities make complete specificity difficult: even when high specificity, can have some
degree of specificity with other targets => side-effects
- endogenous = originate from within the organism // exogenous = originate from outside
- specificity is dependant on dose
Drug dose
- ex: if drug is 50 times more selective for target A compared to B
=> effects at B when increase 50 times the dose of when we first start seeing effects at A
- low dose = more specific effect
- difficult to predict how much drug will arrive at target
Therapeutic windows and toxicity
- therapeutic window = therapeutic index = compare dose that produces therapeutic effect with
dose that produces a toxic effect = TD50/ED50
=> safety of the drug: the higher the safer
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through EFT, credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying this summary from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller lisaribau. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy this summary for R185,70. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
