BASIC CONCEPTS IN

PHARMACOLOGY
BY: DR. EDDY SUWARSO, S.U. APT.

Email: parikesit5252@yahoo.co.id
 BASIC CONCEPTS IN
PHARMACOLOGY
Pharmacology: It is the science of drugs and its
physical and chemical properties and their affect on
the body and how they interact with other substances.
Pharmacology can be divided into 3 sections:
Pharmacokinetics: deals with the absorption,
distribution, biotransformation and excretion of the
drugs and its metabolites from the body.
Pharmacodynamics: deals with the biochemical and
physiological effect of the drug as well as its
mechanism of action.
Pharmacogenetics: is the study of the role of genes in
determining the drug metabolism.
 PHARMACOKINETICS

Study of the metabolism and

action of drugs
Particularly emphasizes the
following:
1. Absorption
2. Distribution
3. Biotransformation
4. Excretion
 ABSORPTION

The movement of a drug from its

point of entry into the body into
systemic circulation
 ABSORPTION

Factors influencing rate of absorption:

Drug concentration
Site of absorption
pH of the drug
Acids into acids, etc.
Status of circulation
Solubility
Water based vs. oil based
 DISTRIBUTION

The manner in which a drug is

transported from the site of
absorption to the site of action
 DISTRIBUTION

Influenced by several factors:

Cardiovascular function
Physical barriers
Blood-brain and placenta
barriers
 BIOTRANSFORMATION

The process by which drugs are

inactivated and transformed into a
form that can be eliminated from
the body
 BIOTRANSFORMATION

Inactive forms are called metabolites

Rate of transformation will determine
how often a drug must be
administered
Eg. Epinephrine transforms in 3-5
minutes
The liver is the most significant organ in
the transformation process
 EXCRETION

The process of eliminating

drugs from the body
 EXCRETION

Primarily accomplished through

the kidneys but may also involve
the liver, the lungs, intestines,
sweat and mammary glands
 PHARMACODYNAMICS

How a drug works and

how we can expect the
body to respond to the
administration of a drug
 PHARMACODYNAMICS

Most drugs work through interactions with

receptor sites.
These are protein coatings found on the
outer surface of the cell membrane.
Generally, when a drug binds or attaches
to a receptor site, a chemical reaction
occurs that initiates the desired
physiological or therapeutic response.
Such drugs are called agonists.
Some drugs work through the
principle of antagonism

In such cases, a drug competes

with another drug or chemical for
position at a receptor site.
We see this with Naloxone which
competes with narcotic drugs
In this case Naloxone would be an
antagonist.
AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM

The Peripheral nervous system is divided into

afferent and efferent divisions.
The section of the efferent division that
controls involuntary bodily functions is
known as the Autonomic Nervous System.
These functions include cardiac function,
body temperature, smooth muscle, gland
function and arterial blood pressure.
AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM

Sympathetic nervous system

Parasympathetic nervous system
SYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM

Prepares body to deal with stress

Fight or flight response
Neurotransmitters are epinephrine and
norepinephrine
Chemical substances that facilitate excitation or inhibition
of target cells
 A drug that stimulates the sympathetic nervous
system is known as a sympathomimetic or
adrenergic agent

A drug that inhibits the sympathetic nervous system

is called a sympatholytic or anti-adrenergic agent
Ex. Propanolol ( beta blocker )
PARASYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM

Controls vegetative functions

Constriction of pupils, slowing of heart rate,
constriction of bronchioles, etc.
Neurotransmitter is Acetylcholine
A drug that stimulates the system is called a
Parasympathomimetic or cholinergic drug
Eg. Prostigmine
A drug that blocks or inhibits the system is
called a Parasympatholytic or
anticholinergic drug
Eg. Atropine
 Drugs and Their Sources

A drug is any substance used for the diagnosis,

cure, teatment, or prevention of a disease or is
intended to affect the structure or function of
any living system. Drugs can be made from a
variety of sources. They can be derived from
sources such as plants, animals, minerals, or
chemicals. Drugs can also be produced by
recombinant DNA technology. A drug that is
produced from recombinant DNA technology
is referred to as a biopharmaceutical.
Drugs that are derived from animals,
plants, or minerals are classified as
natural substances. Examples of drug
derived from plants include opium from
the opium poppy, digoxin from foxglove,
and colchicine from the cinchona tree.
Drugs derived from animal sources
include conjugated estrogen tablets and
thryoxine. Drugs derived from minerals
include iron salts, used to treat anemia.
Most drugs available on the market
today are synthesized from naturally
occurring chemicals. Drugs derived
from these chemicals can be fruther
categorized into synthetic, synthesized,
or semi-synthetic drugs. A synthetic
drug is a drug that is created artificially
and that has a specific mechanism of
action that results in a specific
pharmacologic effect. Penicillin and the
sulfa drugs are examples of synthetic
drugs. Synthetic drugs are not created
to mimic a naturally occurring drug.
A synthesized drug is a drug created in
the laboratory to mimic the
pharmacologic actions of a naturally
occurring drug. Methamphetamine is
an example of a synthesized drug. A
semi-synthetic drug is one that contains
a combination of artifically created
molecules and natural molecules.
Amoxicillin and ampicillin are examples
of semi-synthetic drugs. These drugs are
generally creaated to improve the
properties of the naturally occurring
susbstances or drugs.
Biogenetically engineered drugs are synthetic
drugs with specific therapeutic effects that have
been genetically engineered using
recombinant deoxyribonucleic acid [DNA]
technology. DNA is a complex, helically shaped
molecule that carries the genetic code for each
individual. DNA technology uses biology,
chemistry, and immunology to create drugs that
can alter the DNA code to prevent or treat
diseases. The classification of a drug is
important because it places the drug into
propercategories. Drugs can be classified
according to their source, chemical structure,
mechanism of action, or function.