PSYC 5850 Studyguide
What are the characteristics of a drug? - ANS-drug: a chemical (that is not food) that is
administered outside of the body in order to alter the physiological functions of an organism
(and it's active at minute concentrations)
**Top two drugs used worldwide = caffeine (to overcome fatigue) & alcohol (to relieve stress)
Requirements for generic drugs - ANS-They must be pharmacologically identical to the "real"
thing/brand name
Drug actions vs. Drug effects - ANS-Drug action: The cellular-level changes that occur when a
drug binds to a physiological site of action
Ex: when a drug causes a protein to bend a certain way, basically if it changes something about
the cellular components then it is drug action
Drug effects: The "bigger picture" impact and/or the large scale changes that occur following
the molecular-level effects
ex: If a certain drug affects a man's blood pressure or how sleepy he is, this would be a drug
Effect.
What is analgesia, and what are three classes of analgesic drugs? - ANS-Analgesics: relieve
pain
steroids---anti-inflammatory properties
opiate analgesics---ex: vicodin
non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)—ex: aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen
cannabinoids: effective in treatment of glaucoma pain, cancer pain, etc
How are side effects defined? - ANS-side effect = any effect other than the therapeutic effect
aka the desired effect
There are NOT any drugs that are absent of side effects!
in notes says: The definition of side effects depends on what the therapeutic effect is.
Characterize placebo effects. - ANS-can regulate physiological processes
can produce side effects
have variable potency
very real and quite common
at least 1/3 of subjects experience some degree of the anticipated effect with psychoactive
drugs
This is why for best results it is necessary that tests of drug effects must be placebo-controlled
(and preferably double-blind).
Specific vs. nonspecific effects - ANS-Specific: depend on the interaction b/t drug and its
physiological receptor
, Non-specific: do NOT depend on the interaction b/t the drug and its physiological receptor
What does "pharmacokinetics" encompass? - ANS-absorption: how drugs get into body
distribution: how drugs are distributed t/o
metabolism: in the liver (detox center)
elimination: excretion
Common routes of administration in humans and animals: Advantages and Disadvantages -
ANS-(refer to the chart)
How do lipid solubility and ionization influence pharmacokinetics? - ANS-The more lipid soluble
a drug, the easier it is absorbed/passes BBB.
Ionization is one form of inactivation. Slows drug distribution. Makes drug more water-soluble,
thus easier to eliminate. [Ex: in liver, glucuronide can be added to a toxin/drug => drug ionized,
more water-soluble, easier to eliminate.]
What is the first-pass effect? - ANS-basically when the liver converts the drug into ineffective
(common case) or even more potent metabolite (rare case)
This is a disadvantage/drawback
What is the BBB, how is it formed, and what are some notable gaps? - ANS-The blood-brain
barrier (BBB) is a separation between the blood and brain extracellular fluid. The BBB consists
of tight junctions (formed by astrocytes) surrounding by capillary endothelial cells. Some notable
gaps include the Area Postrema (aka "Chemical Trigger Zone") and the Median Eminence.
What is a teratogen? - ANS-Drugs that produce birth defects at higher rates in babies born to
mothers who used them during pregnancy
ex: cocaine (heart defects, SIDS)
ethanol (FAS)
vaprolic acid (spinal bifida)
What is pKa and what are its implications for drug ionization? - ANS-The level at which half of
the drug becomes ionized
implications: if an acidic drug is in an alkaline environment, more of it becomes ionized and
therefore rendered useless, and vice versa
What is depot binding, which tissues are the major contributors, and how might this
phenomenon affect drug bioavailability? - ANS-Depot binding occurs when a drug binds to a
physiologically inactive site. Major contributors include plasma protein (e.g. albumin) - #1; fat
and muscle. Depot binding reduces immediate effects of drug because it lowers the total
amount to reach target sites.
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