PHARMACODYNAMICS

                                                                           Classroom worksheet

Mechanisms of drug effects – work with the ATC classification and online sources

1) open online https://www.atccode.com/ the ATC classification of drugs and find the groups of
drugs for acid related disorders

See the table below and find for each category of mechanism of action (MoA) an example of a
specific drug and an approved product, read the SPC (https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc,
https://www.drugs.com/, or other source) in detail and check the pharmacodynamic profile, prescribe
one product of your choice



       specific receptor-mediated

                                                                   specific non-receptor-mediated

                                                                                                            nonspecific


MoA




drug




product






2) Anti-allergy drugs – choose products containing ketotifen, cetirizine and levocetirizine within
the ATC group of antihistamines for systemic use

See the table below and compare pharmacodynamic profiles of these 3 drugs, find an example of an
approved product for all and prescribe one product of your choice


       ketotifen

                cetirizine

                                                                    levocetirizine

MoA




product





What is the exact pharmacodynamic effect of H1-antihistamines?


3) Anodynes – identify the mechanism of action of drugs listed in the group of analgesic drugs,
which is listed under opioid drugs

a) Assign the following opioid analgesics depending on their receptor interactions into categories
listed in the following table:

buprenorphine, fentanyl, hydromorphone, codeine, methadone, morphine, nalbuphine, naloxone,
naltrexone, pentazocine, pethidine, sufentanil

                                           full agonists

                                         partial agonists


                                    mixed agonists antagonists

                                            antagonists







b) Prescribe morphine in tablets:




4) NSAIDs - identify the mechanism of action of drugs listed in the group of other analgesics and
antipyretics

a) Assign the following drugs into categories listed in the following table depending on their
selectivity towards cyclooxygenase 1 and 2 (COX)

·         celecoxib, diclofenac, ibuprofen, acetylsalicylic acid, meloxicam, naproxen, nimesulide

a)

                                    irreversible COX inhibition

                        non-selective / non-specific COX 1 and 2 inhibitors

                                  preferential COX 2  inhibitors

                              selective / specific COX 2  inhibitors





b)

b) Prescribe ASA indicated for its anti-platelet effects and explain its MoA:




5) Beta-blockers – identify the mechanism of action of drugs listed in the group of beta blocking
agents

a) Assign the following drugs into categories listed in the following table depending on their
receptor affinity:

·         acebutolol, atenolol, betaxolol, bisoprolol, celiprolol, carvedilol, metoprolol, sotalol

                                    non-selective β antagonists


                             selective /  cardioselective antagonists


                                 non-selective α and β antagonists


                        antagonists with intrinsic sympathomimetic activity

                                        (partial agonists)






b) Prescribe a beta-blocker in tablet form, indicated for its antiarrhythmic effects: