psychopharmacology
Area of pharmacology specializing in drug-induced changes in mood, thinking, and behavior.
pharmacokinetics
Factors that contribute to bioavailability: the administration, absorption, distribution, binding, inactivation, and excretion of a drug.
advantages of intravenous injection
most rapid and accurate method of drug administration in that a precise quantity of the agent is placed directly into the blood and passage through barriers such as the stomach wall is eliminated.
drug reaches the brain almost instantly
disadvantages of intravenous injection
Quick on set of drug action can be hazardous. Overdose or allergic reaction. No time for correction.
lipid-soluble drugs
a drug that can dissolve in fats (lipids) rather than water.
Can pass directly through membranes by passive diffusion (no special transport needed).
They move from an area of high concentration → low concentration.
blood-brain barrier
brain capillaries consisting of tightly joined endothelial cells with minimal pores. A dense network of blood vessels that permeate the entire brain, supplying cells with O2, glucose, and amino acids while removing carbon dioxide.
Importance of blood-brain barrier
supplies needed nutrients, O2 and removes toxic Carbon dioxide
half-life
Time required to remove half of the drug from the blood.
pharmacodynamics
study of physiological and biochemical interactions of a drug with the target tissue responsible for the drug effects.
What are receptors?
Proteins located on the surface of or within cells that bind to specific ligands to initiate biological changes within the cell.
What are ligands?
any molecule that binds to a receptor
how receptors can be modified?
- By the ligands that bind to them
- By changes in receptor number (long-term regulation)
- upregulation
- downregulation - By changes in receptor sensitivity (short-term regulation)
explain the life-cycle of receptors
Synthesis– binding (to legands)– dissociation (legand leaves) – modification ( changed with legand binding) – regulation (sensitivity adjustment) – degredation/renewal/ relpalcement
tolerance vs. sensitization
sensitization is the increase in reaction or action of a drug due to repeat exposure and tolerance is the decreased reaction or action of a drug after repeat exposure.
metabolic tolerance
Type of tolerance to a drug that is characterized by a reduced amount of drug available at the target tissue, often as a result of more-rapid drug metabolism. It is sometimes also called drug disposition tolerance.
pharmacodynamic tolerance
type of tolerance formed by changes in nerve cell functions in response to the continued presence of a drug often more rapid metabolism
the placebo effect
placebo is in fact a pharmacologically inert compound administered to an individual; however, in many instances it has not only therapeutic effects, but side effects as well.
methods of drug administration
oral
IM
SC
Intranasal
Rectal
IV
Inhaled
SL
Topical
Transdermal
how the methods of drug administration influence the onset of drug action
he route of administration determines how quickly and how much drug reaches the bloodstream (bioavailability). Fast routes (IV, inhalation, intranasal, sublingual) bypass digestion and first-pass metabolism → rapid onset. Slower routes (oral, rectal, SC, IM, transdermal) involve more barriers, metabolism, or delayed absorption → slower, variable onset.
factors that modify drug absorption
- Route of administration
- Drug solubility & ionization
- pH of body fluids
- Gastric emptying & food
- Blood flow at absorption site
- Depot binding (reduces free drug availability)
- Individual differences such as age and gender
selective barriers affecting drug distribution
Blood–Brain Barrier (BBB):
Placental Barrier
Depot binding - pseudo barrier
how drug distribution is limited by selective barriers
restricted by barriers such as the blood–brain barrier (blocks ionized/water-soluble drugs, allows lipid-soluble), the placental barrier (lets many drugs pass to fetus), and depot binding (stores drug in proteins, fat, or bone, reducing free drug). These barriers slow entry to target sites, limit CNS penetration, and prolong action through redistribution and storage.
the significance of depot binding
Type of drug interaction involving binding to an inactive site, such as to proteins in the plasma, to bone, or to fat.
the process of biotransformation and elimination of drugs
Inactivation of a drug through a chemical change, usually by metabolic processes catalyzed by enzymes in the liver.
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Unit 131
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Unit 228
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Unit 322
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Unit 414
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Unit 575
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Unit 654
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Unit 736
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Unit 845
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Unit 9 Addiction27
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Unit 10 Alcohol22
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Unit 11 Opioids13
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Unit 12 Psychomotor Stimulants21
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Unit 13 Caffiene Nicotine49
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Unit 14 Cannibis62
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Unit 15 Psychedelics60
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Unit 16 Inhalants Ghb Asa45
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Unit 17 Anxiety86
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Unit 18 Affective Disorders60
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Unit 19 Schizophrenia61
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Unit 20 Neurodegenerative Conditions43
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Definitions All Units203
