Pharmacodynamics
from class: 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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Predict what's on your test 5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test Pharmacodynamics involves drug-receptor interactions, which determine how a drug produces its effects. The dose-response curve is a key concept that depicts the relationship between drug dose and its pharmacological effect. Agonists are drugs that activate receptors, while antagonists inhibit receptor activity. The therapeutic index is a measure of a drug's safety, calculated as the ratio between toxic and therapeutic doses. 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? "Pharmacodynamics" also found in:
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