Define Pharmacology
Study of the manner in which function of living systems is affected by chemical agents
Define Pharmacodynamics
the study of effects of drugs and their mechanisms of action
Pharmacokinetics
the study of absorption, distribution, biotransformation and excretion of drugs
Pharmacotherapy
study of the use of drugs in prevention and treatment of disease
Toxicology
aspect of pharmacology that deals with the adverse effects of drugs
Define selectivity
drugs act on particular cells and tissues -> must show high degree of binding-site specificity.
Define specificity
proteins that function as drug targets will only recognize ligands of a certain type
Receptor
the component of the organism with which a chemical agent interacts
List the different classes of receptors with which drugs interact
physiological receptors, enzymes, transporters, ion channels, structural proteins
Drugs that are not mediated by binding to receptors
interact with small molecules or ions that are found in the body -> ex. therapeutic neutralization of gastric acid by antacids, Mesma, mannitol, cholestyramine/colestipol/colesevelam, Dimercaprol, Structural analogs of pyrimidines and purines
Mesma
acts in the bladder with acroline (reactive metabolite of the anticancer drug cyclophosphamide to prevent hemorrhagic cystitis),
Cholestyramine/colestipol/colesevelam
binds bile acids to prevent reabsorption (treats hyperlipidemia)
Mannitol
administered to increase osmolarity of body fluids -> can promote diuresis, catharsis, expansion of circulating volume or reduction of cerebral edema
Dimercaprol
chelates heavy metals to decrease their toxicity
Structural analogs of pyrimidines and purines
can be incorporated into nucleic acids and alter their function; such drugs have clinical utility in cancer and antiviral chemo