Study "Pharmacology Exam", a flashcard deck on FORKSAI.
Define 'Pharmacology' and explain its primary goal.
Pharmacology is the scientific study of drugs and their effects in living organisms. Its primary goal is to understand drug actions to predict both therapeutic effects and potential adverse effects, thereby informing safe and effective drug use.
Distinguish between 'Pharmacotherapeutics' and 'Toxicology'.
Pharmacotherapeutics involves the use of drugs to prevent, treat, or manage disease, linking drug action to clinical practice and treatment outcomes. Toxicology, in contrast, is the study of the harmful effects of chemicals, including drugs, poisons, and environmental toxins, investigating mechanisms of toxicity and safety assessment.
What are the four phases of clinical development (SEAL) for a new drug, and what is the primary objective of each phase?
The four phases are Safety (Phase I), Efficacy (Phase II), Approval (Phase III), and Long-term (Phase IV). Phase I focuses on safety in healthy individuals, Phase II assesses efficacy in patients with the condition, Phase III aims for approval by replicating exact settings in a larger group, and Phase IV collects post-market data.
Which Australian legislation provides federal control over the standards, manufacture, supply, and registration of all therapeutic goods?
The Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 provides federal control over the standards, manufacture, supply, presentation, registration, and availability of all therapeutic goods in Australia, ensuring their safety, quality, and efficacy.
A new drug candidate has been identified as a possible therapeutic agent against a specific disease. What is the immediate next step in the drug discovery process?
The immediate next step is Preclinical research, where the candidate compound is tested on cell cultures, animal models, and animals to assess its safety and efficacy before human trials.
Which of the following schedules under The Poisons Standard describes 'Pharmacy medicines'?
A) Schedule 2. Schedule 2 specifically describes 'Pharmacy medicines', such as antihistamines, which are available from a pharmacy without a prescription.
A patient requires rapid relief for an acute, painful condition. Which oral formulation would be most suitable, and why?
A gelatine capsule would be most suitable. The drug is in liquid form inside a soft gel capsule, allowing it to dissolve quickly in the stomach, leading to faster absorption and a rapid onset of action, which is ideal for acute pain relief.
Explain the concept of the 'hepatic first-pass effect' and its impact on drug bioavailability.
The hepatic first-pass effect occurs when orally administered drugs are absorbed from the GI tract, enter the hepatic portal vein, and are extensively metabolized by the liver before reaching systemic circulation. This process significantly converts the drug into inactive metabolites, thereby reducing its bioavailability.
What is the primary advantage of the sublingual route of administration over the oral route regarding drug metabolism?
The primary advantage of the sublingual route is that it bypasses first-pass metabolism. Drugs absorbed sublingually enter the systemic circulation directly, avoiding initial breakdown by the liver, which can lead to higher bioavailability and a more rapid onset of action compared to oral administration.
Which of the following routes of administration is generally preferred for drugs that need to maintain a sustained plasma concentration over a long period and avoid first-pass metabolism?
C) Transdermal. The transdermal route, typically via an adhesive patch, allows for sustained drug release and absorption into the systemic circulation, effectively maintaining plasma concentrations and avoiding the hepatic first-pass effect.