Pharmacology for Nurses

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Pharmacodynamics

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Pharmacology for Nurses

Definition

Pharmacodynamics is the study of how drugs affect the body, including mechanisms of action and drug-receptor interactions. It examines the relationship between drug concentration and effect.

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5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

  1. Pharmacodynamics involves drug-receptor interactions, which determine how a drug produces its effects.
  2. The dose-response curve is a key concept that depicts the relationship between drug dose and its pharmacological effect.
  3. Agonists are drugs that activate receptors, while antagonists inhibit receptor activity.
  4. The therapeutic index is a measure of a drug's safety, calculated as the ratio between toxic and therapeutic doses.
  5. Understanding pharmacodynamics helps in predicting both therapeutic outcomes and potential side effects.

Review Questions

  • What is the primary focus of pharmacodynamics?
  • How do agonists and antagonists differ in their interaction with receptors?
  • Why is the therapeutic index important in pharmacodynamics?
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