Pharmacotherapeutics

 Examines the mechanism of action

(MOA) of drugs.
 Describes the effects produced by a
drug.
 Determines what dose of a drug is
needed to produce a desired effect.
 Determines what dose of a drug
produces toxic effects.
Pharmacotherapeutics (cont.)
 Mechanisms of Action (MOA)
 Drugs with the same MOA are said to
belong to the same therapeutic class.
 Binding occurs when a drug combines with
a chemical in the body.
 MOA operates on a “lock and key”
principle. The drug is considered the key
and the body chemical the lock.
Pharmacotherapeutics (cont.)
 Mechanisms of Action (cont.)
 Binding to and Stimulating a Receptor in the
Body
 Receptors – proteins found in cells.

Click for Picture

Pharmacotherapeutics (cont.)
 Mechanisms of Action (cont.)
 Binding to and Blocking a Receptor in the
Body
 Some drugs, called antagonists or

blockers, bind to a receptor without

causing a response, thus preventing the
naturally occurring key from binding.

Click for Picture

Pharmacotherapeutics (cont.)

 Mechanisms of Action (cont.)

 Inhibiting an Enzyme

 Enzyme inhibitors increase or decrease the

concentration of an enzyme.

Click for Picture

Pharmacotherapeutics (cont.)

 A side effect is any effect produced

by a drug that is not the desired
effect.
 Local Side Effects
 Occur before a drug is absorbed into

the bloodstream.
Pharmacotherapeutics (cont.)
 Systemic Side Effects
 Take place after being absorbed

into the bloodstream.

 May take the form of an allergic

reaction, since drugs are not a

“natural” part of our body.
 Most occur because the drug

affects cells other than the target

cells.
Apply Your Knowledge

Where do drugs come from?

Answer:
1. Natural sources such as plants and animals.
2. Microscopic organisms such as bacteria,
fungi, and molds.
3. Synthetics and bioengineering.
Therapeutic Classes of Drugs

 Drugs in a therapeutic class produce

their effect in the same way.

 Examples are listed on the following

slides.
Therapeutic Classes of Drugs (cont.)
 Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors
 Angiotensin is a naturally occurring protein
in the body. An enzyme called angiotension
converting enzyme (ACE) activates
angiotensin, which, when overactive, causes
high blood pressure, or hypertension.
 ACE inhibitors reduce the production of
angiotensin.
 Representative drugs: Accupril®, Lotensin®,
Prinivil®, Vasotec®, and Zestril®.
 Common side effects include headache and
dizziness.
Therapeutic Classes of Drugs (cont.)
 Beta-1 Blockers
Bind to beta-1 receptors without
stimulating them, preventing epinephrine
(adrenalin) and norepinephrine from
binding.
Representative drugs: Lopressor®,
Tenormin®, Toprol®.
Indications: hypertension, tachycardia or
rapid heartbeat.
Common side effects: dizziness,
drowsiness.
Therapeutic Classes of Drugs (cont.)
 Beta-2 Agonists
 These drugs bind to beta-
2 receptors on the smooth
muscle cells of the
bronchioles, causing
dilation. Representative
drugs: Ventolin®,
Proventil®, Serevent®,
Alupent®, Brethine®.
 Indications: asthma,
emphysema.
 Common side effects:
tremors, increased heart
rate, and insomnia.
Therapeutic Classes of Drugs (cont.)
 Antihistamines
Antihistamines bind to histamine
receptors, without stimulating
them.
Representative drugs: Allegra®,
Benadryl®, Claritin®, Zyrtec®.
Indications: itching, nasal
congestion, seasonal allergies
such as hay fever.
Common side effects: dry mouth
and drowsiness.
Therapeutic Classes of Drugs (cont.)
 H2 Antagonists
 Bind to H2 receptors, found
only in the stomach, to
decrease the amount of
hydrochloric acid produced.
 Representative drugs:
Tagamet®, Pepcid®, Zantac®.
 Indications:
gastroesophageal reflux
disorder, gastric ulcers,
duodenal ulcers.
 Common side effects:
diarrhea, headache.
Therapeutic Classes of Drugs (cont.)
 Proton Pump Inhibitors
 Drugs that turn off the proton pumps in the
stomach, which reduces stomach acid.
 Representative drugs: Prilosec®.
 Indications: gastroesophageal reflux disorder,
gastric ulcers, duodenal ulcers.
 Common side effects: diarrhea, headache.
Therapeutic Classes of Drugs (cont.)
 Narcotic Analgesics
 Drugs that bind to and stimulate the endorphin
receptors in the spine which inhibit nerve cells
that carry pain to the brain.
 Representative drugs: morphine, codeine,
Demerol®, Vicodin®, Percodan®.
 Indications: severe pain.
 Common side effects: drowsiness, slow and
shallow breathing, constipation.
Therapeutic Classes of Drugs (cont.)
 Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs
 Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS)
inhibit the enzyme prostaglandin synthase, which
makes prostaglandins.
 Representative drugs: aspirin, Motrin®, Advil®,
Relafen®, Naprosyn®, Aleve®.
 Indications: mild to moderate pain, inflammation,
fever.
 Common side effects: stomach irritation.
Therapeutic Classes of Drugs (cont.)
 Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors
 Inhibit the activity of the enzyme reverse
transcriptase, which is needed to convert RNA to
DNA.
 Representative drugs: AZT, Combivir®, Sustiva®,
Retrovir®.
 Indications: HIV infection.
 Common side effects: anemia, fever, rash,
headache, lack of energy, nausea, vomiting,
diarrhea, stomach pain, cough, shortness of
breath, sore throat.
Apply Your Knowledge

 What type or class of drugs are used to

relieve pain?
 Analgesics such as Tylenol or morphine
 What type or class of drugs is given for an
allergic reaction
 Anti histamines
 What type or class of drug is given for an
ulcer?
 Proton pump inhibitor such as Prilosec or
 H2 antagonist such as Zantac