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Types of pharmacological effects

Authoring team

There are a variety of types of pharmacological effect, involving the interaction of the drug and receptor to form a complex and thus have an effect, as follows:

  • Drug + receptor <-> Drug/receptor complex -> effect:
    • quickly reversible e.g. propranolol, insulin, naloxone

  • Drug + Receptor <-> Drug/Receptor complex -> effect:
    • not easily reversible, for example:
      • digoxin - may need to give Fab of anti Digoxin antibody
      • MAO inhibitors
      • aspirin on platelets - only need very low doses

  • Drug + Receptor <-> Drug/Receptor complex -> effect:
    • DR reversible, but effect prolonged:
      • corticosteroids
      • immunisation

  • Dose response relationships:
    • 75% of adverse drug responses are dose related

  • Steroisomers:
    • warfarin - S and R, t half 32 and 54 respectively; S four times as potent as R form.
    • sotalol - L form is a beta blocker, D form is a class 3 antiarrhythmic

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