Pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics. What is biopharmaceutics?
The following pharmacological definition has been taken from the Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics Department Glossary at Boston University School of Medicine . Biopharmaceutics: The science and study of the ways in which the pharmaceutical formulation of administered agents can influence their pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic behavior. Differences in pharmaceutical properties can cause substantial differences in the […]
Pharmacodynamics. What is a bioassay or biological assay?
Pharmacodynamics definition of biological assay or bioassay.
Ionsys (fentanyl hydrochloride): EMEA recommends the suspension of its marketing authorisation
Press release about the suspension of Ionsys (fentanyl hydrochloride) marketing authorisation The European Medicines Agency (EMEA) has recommended the suspension of the marketing authorisation of Ionsys (fentanyl hydrochloride), from Janssen-Cilag International NV, because of a defect with the delivery system of the medicine that could lead to patients being overdosed. Ionsys is a system for the transdermal […]
Tapentadol approved by FDA as treatment for moderate to severe pain
FDA news release about the approval of pentadol to alleviate moderate to severe Pain: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Tapentadol hydrochloride, an immediate-release oral tablet for the relief of moderate to severe acute pain. Tapentadol is a centrally-acting synthetic analgesic that is available in doses of 50 mg, 75 mg, or 100 […]
Pharmacokinetics. What is bioavailability?
Definition of bioavailability in pharmacokinetics.
Pharmacokinetics. What is the area under the curve (AUC)?
Area under the curve in pharmacokinetics: its use in estimating biovailability of drugs.
G protein-coupled receptors: 3-D video and text
G protein-coupled receptors are the most abundant class of receptors in the human body. These receptors are exposed at the extracellular surface of the cell membrane, traverse the membrane, and possess intracellular regions that activate a unique class of signaling molecules called G proteins. (G proteins are so named because they bind the guanine nucleotides […]
Pharmacodynamics. Antagonism: definition, types (chemical, physiological, pharmacological)
Definitions of different types of antagonism: chemical, pharmacological and physiological.
SSRIs, SNRIs and SSNRIs: clinical guideline by the ACP
The American College of Physicians has issued a Clinical Practice Guideline about the use of Second-Generation Antidepressants in the treatment of Depressive Disorders. The recommendations that arise from it are the following: Recommendation 1: The American College of Physicians recommends that when clinicians choose pharmacologic therapy to treat patients with acute major depression, they select […]
Atrial fibrillation and bisphosphonates: FDA Medwatch update
FDA issued an update to the Agency’s review of safety data regarding the potential increased risk of atrial fibrillation in patients treated with a bisphosphonate drug. Bisphosphonates marketed as Alendronate (Fosamax, Fosamax Plus D) Etidronate (Didronel) Ibandronate (Boniva) Pamidronate (Aredia) Risedronate (Actonel, Actonel W/Calcium) Tiludronate (Skelid) Zoledronic acid (Reclast, Zometa) Bisphosphonates are a class of […]
Animation: insulin secretion and sulfonylureas mechanism of action
Animation that depicts how sulfonylureas enhance insulin secretion by binding to specific beta cell receptors. Download available
Jupiter trial: comments podcast by Therapeutics Initiative
The Therapeutics Initiative is an independent organization at The University of British Columbia dedicated to providing up to date, evidence based, practical information on rational drug therapy. They produced an excellent podcast about the recent JUPITER trial: Download podcast | Subscribe with iTunes | Show Notes Some official information about the trial: Rosuvastatin to Prevent […]
How to titrate metformin: consensus statement on Diabetes Care
Below is a transcript of the latest statement (December 2008) published on Diabetes Care about the titration of metformin in the medical management of hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetes. TITRATION OF METFORMIN 1. Begin with low-dose metformin (500 mg) taken once or twice per day with meals (breakfast and/or dinner) or 850 mg once per […]
Metformin: consensus statement published on Diabetes Care
Below is a transcript of the latest statement (December 2008) published on Diabetes Care about the role of metformin in the medical management of hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetes. Metformin In most of the world, metformin is the only biguanide available. Its major effect is to decrease hepatic glucose output and lower fasting glycemia. Typically, […]