Download – Pharmacodynamics and Receptor Physiology

Pharmacodynamics illustrates what a drug does to the body, with drugs acting on ‘targets’ by binding. The equilibrium between bound and unbound targets (affinity) helps to determine a drug’s effect. Receptors are a special type of target, involved in the body’s normal signalling processes. Receptors can be activated, partially activated or inactivated when bound by a drug (efficacy). Plotting log drug dose against response produces curves which differ, depending on affinity, efficacy and the presence of other drugs.

James Noblet
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