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pharmacodynamics
study of how drugs produce their effects on desired cells and how a drug is processed by the body; study of biochemical and physiolofic effects of drugs and their mechanisms of action
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target cell
general term referring to a large number of cells, all of which are similar, on which a particular drug is intended to act
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drug-drug interaction
an interaction between two or more drugs administered to a patient, resulting in either an increas or a decrease in the therapeutic effects of one or more of the drugs, or an adverse effect.
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metabolite
any substance produced by the metabolic process
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pharmacokinetics
study of the time course of a drug and its metabolites in the body following drug administration
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absorption
process by which a drug is moved from the site of administration into the bloodstream
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distribution
process by which an absorbed drug is moved from the bloodstream to body tissues or receptors
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passive diffusion
passive transport across a cell membrane; drug molecules move from an area of high concentration into an area of low concentration
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facilitated diffusion
carrier protein permits specific molecules to pass through certain parts of the cells, requires energy
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active transport
- certain substances are permitted to accumulate outside the cells
- the accumulation generates concentration gradient that will permit transportaion of substance from outside the cell into the cell
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pinocytosis
the cell engulfs substance and permits substance to enter the cell, requires energy
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bioavailability
degree to which a drug becomes available to body tissues after administration
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addiction
pattern of compulsive substance abuse characterized by continued psychological and physiological craving or need for the substance and its effects
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tolerance
when a person requires (psychologically or physiolofically) larger doses of a drug to achieve same effect
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dependency
state of being dependent
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