Exam 3: Basic Principles of Pharmacology

The rate at which a drug is metabolized is proportional to the plasma concentration of the drug (in log units).This is referred to as ______________ kinetics.

What are two reasons that the relative concentrations of a psychoactive drug may be lower in an expectant mother's brain than in her fetus' brain?

Metabolism of drugs by the liver may involve

Teratogenic effects of drugs

Matching questions.In the space provided, indicate the letter corresponding to the most appropriate term that is defined or described below. a.blood-brain barrier b.agonist c.enzyme d.pharmacokinetics e.efficacy f.clinical efficacy g.ion i.metabolism j.therapeutic index k.pharmacodynamics l.potency m.physiological antagonism 1) _____ Study of the biochemical and physiological effects of drugs and their mechanisms of action. 2) _____ Refers specifically to the dose at which the effect occurs. 3) _____ A drug's relative margin of safety. 4) _____ Refers to the relative capability of an agent to activate a receptor after binding with the receptor. 5) ____ The processes involved in a drug's absorption, distribution, binding or localization in tissues, metabolic alterations, and excretion from the body. 6) _____ Structurally consisting of tightly packed endothelial cells of brain capillaries, surrounded by a very lipid sheath made up of extensions of "glial feet" from nearby astrocyte cells, which prevent non-lipid-soluble (most non-nutritive) substances from entering the central nervous system. 7) _____ A protein secreted by cells that acts as a catalyst to induce chemical changes in other substances, but which itself is unchanged in the process.

Assume that we have established a dose-response function for drowsiness induced by morphine and found that drowsiness occurred in 5% of people at 3 mg morphine, 20% at 6 mg morphine, 50% at 9 mg morphine, 85% at 12 mg morphine, and 100% at 15 mg morphine.We then find that three alcoholic beverages induce drowsiness in 5% of people.When we give different doses of morphine to people along with three alcoholic beverages, we find that now drowsiness occurs in 20% of people at 3 mg morphine, 50% of people at 6 mg morphine, 85% at 9 mg morphine, 100% at 12 mg morphine, and 100% at 15 mg morphine.What phenomenon are we most likely observing? Explain your answer.

Which of the following drugs is most potent?

We often compare drugs in terms of their potency.Of what significance to therapeutics is the potency of a drug?

The ED 50 for drugs A, B, C, and D are 10 mg, 50 mg, 100 mg, and 200 mg, respectively.The LD 50 for drugs A, B, C, and D are 100 mg, 150 mg, 500 mg, and 800 mg, respectively.Assuming the lethal dose response functions for all four drugs have the same slope, in general, which drug has the greatest margin of safety?

Antabuse (disulfiram) may be useful in the treatment of alcoholism because it

What does "first-pass metabolism" refer to?

Excretion of drugs occurs most commonly through

What is the "blood brain barrier"?

Describe or define the following terms: -active placebo:

If a pregnant woman were to take a psychoactive drug, which of the following would be expected to exhibit the higher brain levels of the drug?

A shift in the dose-response function to the right indicates

In a meaningful double-blind study

The "blood brain barrier" is primarily the result of

Assume that 30 mg of drug A puts 10% of people to sleep and that 100 mg of drug A puts 80% of people to sleep.Assume that drug B has no effect on sleep at any dose (except at lethal doses).If we give 100 mg of drug B along with 30 mg of drug A, we observe that the combination puts 50% of people to sleep.What phenomenon are we observing? Explain your answer.

Drug A is capable of reducing most of the symptoms of depression in 60% of depressed patients at 40 milligrams per day, but more than 40 milligrams per day doesn't produce any greater effect.Drug B is capable of reducing most of the symptoms of depression in 70% of depressed patients at 100 milligrams per day, but more than 100 milligrams per day doesn't produce any greater effect.Drug C is capable of reducing most of the symptoms of depression in 60% of depressed patients at 40 milligrams per day, but more than 40 milligrams per day produces severe side effects.Which of these drugs has the greatest clinical efficacy?