Written questions
Model answers available
- (a)With the help of diagrams, define agonism and antagonism and their relationship.5 marks
- (b)Outline the type of receptors related to the mechanism of action of intravenous anaesthetic agents.5 marks
- (a)Discuss the ceiling dose of intrathecal fentanyl. Illustrate this observation using log-dose response diagram.4 marks
- (b)Compare and contrast the use of fentanyl and remifentanil as an intraoperative analgesia.4 marks
- (c)List significant drug-drug interaction with opioids.2 marks
Catalogued
Questions without a written answer yet
- (a i)Define drug tolerance. Draw and label a log dose-response curve to illustrate this phenomenon.3 marks
- (a ii)Give two (2) examples of the pharmacodynamic mechanism drug tolerance may develop.3 marks
- (b i)Define tachyphylaxis. Draw and label a log dose-response curve to illustrate this phenomenon.3 marks
- (b ii)Give one (1) example of the pharmacodynamic mechanism of tachyphylaxis may develop.1 mark
Single best answer
4 SBAs on pharmacodynamics
Viva
4 viva questions
What is the difference between potency and efficacy?
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Potency is the dose or concentration required for a specified effect, commonly compared using EC50/ED50. Efficacy is the maximum response a drug can produce, represented by Emax.
Why can a partial agonist antagonise a full agonist?
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It competes for the same receptor but produces less activation at each occupied receptor; increasing the full agonist can displace it and restore the full response.
Where do benzodiazepines and propofol bind on GABAA receptors?
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Benzodiazepines bind at the α–γ subunit interface; propofol, etomidate and barbiturates act at distinct general-anaesthetic sites associated mainly with β subunits.
Is ketamine a competitive NMDA antagonist?
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No. It is classically described as a non-competitive open-channel blocker.