Pharmacodynamics

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.

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?

Related terms

Pharmacokinetics: The study of how drugs are absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and excreted by the body.

Drug-Receptor Interaction: The binding of a drug to its target receptor to produce a biological effect.

Therapeutic Index: A measure of drug safety indicating the range between effective dose and toxic dose.