Pharmacologic principles

Additive effects
Drug interactions in which the effect of a combination of two or more drugs
with similar actions is equivalent to the sum of the individual effects of the
same drugs given alone . For example 1+1=2.
Adverse drug event
Any undesirable occurrence related to administering or failing to administer a
prescribed medication.
Adverse drug reactions
Any unexpected , unintended , undesired or excessive response to a mediation
given at therapeutic dosages (as opposed to overdose ).
 Adverse effects
A general term for any undesirable effects that are a direct response to one or
more drugs.
Agonist
A drug that binds to and stimulates the activity of one or more receptors in the
body.
Allergic reaction
An immunologic hypersensitivity reaction resulting from the unusual sensitivity
of a patient to a particular medication ; a type of adverse drug event.
Antagonist
A drug that binds to and inhibits the activity of one or more receptors in the
body . Antagonist are also called as inhibitors.
 Antagonistic effects
Drug interactions in which the effect of a combination of two or more drugs is
less than the sum of the individual effects of the same drugs given alone
(1+1=less than 2 ); it is usually caused by an antagonizing (blocking or reducing )
effect of one drug on another .
Bioavailability
A measure of the extent of drug absorption for a given drug and route ( from
0% to 100% ) .
Biotransformation
One or more biochemical reactions involving a parent drug. Biotransformation
occurs mainly in the liver and produces a metabolite that is either inactive or
active . Also known as metabolism.
Blood-brain barrier
The barrier system that restricts the passage of various chemicals and
microscopic entities ( e.g. bacteria, viruses ) between the bloodstream and the
central nervous system . It still allows for the passage of essential substances
such as oxygen.
 Chemical name
The name that describes the chemical composition and molecular structure of a
drug.
Contraindication
Any condition , especially one related to a disease state or patient characteristic
, including current or recent drug therapy , that renders a particular form of
treatment improper or undesirable.
Cytochrome P-450
The general name for a large class of enzymes that play a significant role in drug
metabolism and drug interactions.
Dependence
A state in which there is a compulsive or chronic need , as for a drug.
Dissolution
The process by which solid forms of drugs disintegrate in the gastrointestinal
tract and become soluble before being absorbed into the circulation.
 Drug
Any chemical that affects the physiologic processes of a living organism.
Drug actions
The processes involved in the interaction between a drug and body cells ( e.g.,
the action of a drug on a receptor protein ) ; also called mechanism of action .
Drug classification
A method of grouping drugs ; may be based on structure or therapeutic use.
Drug effects
The physiologic reactions of the body to a drug. They can be therapeutic or
toxic and describe how the body is affected as a whole by the drug. The terms
onset, peak , and duration are used to describe drug effects ( most often
referring to therapeutic effects ).
Drug-induced teratogenesis
The development of congenital anomalies or defect in the developing fetus
caused by the toxic effects of drugs.
 Drug interaction
Alteration in the pharmacologic or pharmacokinetic activity of a given drug
caused by the presence of one or more additional drugs ; it is usually related to
effects on the enzymes required for metabolism of the involved drugs.
Duration of action
The length of time concentration of a drug in the blood or tissues is sufficient to
elicit a response.
Enzymes
Protein molecules that catalyse one or more of a variety of biochemical
reactions, including those related to the bodys physiologic processes as well as
those related to drug metabolism.
First-pass effect
The initial metabolism in the liver of a drug absorbed from the gastrointestinal
tract before the drug reaches systemic circulation through the bloodstream.
 Generic name
The name given to a drug by the United States Adopted Names Council. Also
called the non-proprietary name. The generic name is much shorter and simpler
than the chemical name and is not protected by trademark.
Glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) defiency
A heredity condition in which red blood cells break down when the body is
exposed to certain drug.