Pharmacology Fundamentals Flashcards
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Read the first 7 Pharmacology Fundamentals flashcards as text
A competitive antagonist is given alongside an agonist. What happens to the agonist's dose-response curve?
Answer: Shifts to the right with the same maximum effect
A competitive antagonist shifts the agonist dose-response curve to the right (higher EC50) but the maximum effect is preserved if enough agonist is available.
Which pharmacodynamic concept describes a drug that binds a receptor and produces less than the maximum possible effect even at full receptor occupancy?
Answer: Partial agonism
Partial agonists have intrinsic efficacy less than 1, so they cannot produce the full maximal response even when all receptors are occupied.
A patient's renal function declines significantly. Which pharmacokinetic parameter is most directly affected for renally cleared drugs?
Answer: Clearance
Renal clearance is directly reduced when GFR falls, leading to drug accumulation and potentially toxicity.
Which term describes the minimum concentration of drug needed at the receptor to produce a measurable effect?
Answer: Threshold concentration
Threshold concentration is the minimum drug concentration required to elicit a detectable pharmacological response.
A patient on a stable dose of theophylline starts smoking. What adjustment is expected?
Answer: Dose increase because smoking induces CYP1A2 and lowers theophylline levels
Smoking induces CYP1A2, accelerating theophylline metabolism and reducing its plasma concentration, requiring a higher dose.
Which phenomenon describes decreased drug effect over time requiring higher doses to achieve the same response?
Answer: Tolerance
Tolerance is the gradual decrease in response to a drug with repeated exposure, often due to receptor downregulation or metabolic adaptation.
An irreversible antagonist is administered. Which statement correctly describes the resultant dose-response curve of the agonist?
Answer: Maximum effect is reduced and cannot be overcome by increasing agonist dose
Irreversible (non-competitive) antagonists permanently occupy receptors, reducing the maximal response regardless of agonist concentration.
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