Question

Describe the followings:

a.drug interaction
b.drug biotransformation?
c.drug receptors?

(Describe each with 50-100 words.)

Answer 1

drug interactions- it is the process in which the effect of one drug like absorption, elimination, actions and side effects are altered due to presence of some other drug. Substances other than drugs can also alter the effect of main drug like food, beverages etc. The second drug alter the metabolism of first drug, due to which the normal effects of primary drug is not obtained. For example, taking proton pump inhibitors with food lowers the effect of the drug. This is because, the food in interacts with the release of Proton pump inhibitor from the capsule. The food cause release of acid from the stomach which lowers the effect of proton pump inhibitor.

drug biotransformation- it is the process in which the chemical nature of the drug is changed. Change in chemical nature of drug will result in change in effects of drug. Most of the biotransformation process of drug occurs in liver. Some examples of biotransformation processes are oxidation, reduction, conjugation etc.

drug receptors- drug receptors are defined as the macromolecules or binding sites located on the surface or inside the effector cells that serves to recognise the signal molecule/drug and initiate the response to it, but itself has no other functions. Examples of some drug receptors are - G protein coupled receptor, ion channel receptor, transmembrane enzyme linked receptor etc.