Pharmacodynamic interaction mechanisms

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Interaction Types - Drug Duets & Duels

  • Additive: Combined effect equals the sum of individual drug effects (1 + 1 = 2).
    • Example: Aspirin and acetaminophen for analgesia.
  • Synergistic: Combined effect exceeds the sum of individual effects (1 + 1 > 2).
    • Example: Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim).
  • Antagonistic: One drug diminishes or abolishes the effect of another (1 + 1 < 2).
    • Pharmacologic: Competitive (naloxone + morphine) or non-competitive.
    • Physiologic: Opposite effects on a physiological system (insulin + glucagon).

Dose-response curves for drug interactions

Exam Favorite: Penicillins and aminoglycosides are synergistic. Penicillin breaks down the bacterial cell wall, enhancing aminoglycoside entry to the ribosome, thus boosting its efficacy.

Receptor Binding - The Receptor Rumble

  • Competitive Antagonism: Reversibly binds to the same receptor site as the agonist.
    • Shifts the dose-response curve to the right (↑ED₅₀), reducing potency.
    • Maximal effect (Emax) is maintained.
    • Can be overcome by increasing agonist concentration.
    • 📌 Mnemonic: Competitive antagonists cause a Right shift, but no Height shift.
  • Non-competitive Antagonism: Binds irreversibly to the active site or to an allosteric site.
    • Reduces Emax, lowering efficacy.
    • Cannot be overcome by increasing agonist concentration.
  • Partial Agonism: Acts as an agonist but with lower intrinsic activity.
    • Can act as a competitive antagonist in the presence of a full agonist.

Dose-response curves: antagonism and partial agonism

Exam Favorite: A partial agonist like buprenorphine can precipitate withdrawal in a patient on a full agonist like morphine. It competes for µ-opioid receptors but has lower intrinsic activity, causing a net decrease in receptor stimulation.

Signaling Pathways - A Downstream Dilemma

  • Occurs when drugs target different receptors but converge on the same intracellular signaling cascade, leading to exaggerated or opposed effects.
  • Synergistic Example: Sildenafil (PDE-5 inhibitor) and Nitroglycerin (NO donor) both ↑ cGMP levels, causing profound vasodilation and life-threatening hypotension.
  • Antagonistic Example: NSAIDs (↓ prostaglandins) and ACE inhibitors (↓ Angiotensin II) have opposing effects on renal arteriole tone, risking acute kidney injury.

Contraindication: Never prescribe phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors (e.g., sildenafil) with nitrates. Allow a washout period of at least 24-48 hours to prevent severe hypotension.

cGMP pathway, sildenafil, and smooth muscle relaxation

Serotonin Syndrome - A Serotonin Storm

  • Pathophysiology: Potentially life-threatening condition from excess CNS serotonergic activity, typically from combining serotonergic drugs.
  • Common Culprits:
    • SSRIs/SNRIs, MAOIs, Linezolid, Methylene Blue.
    • Triptans, Tramadol, St. John's Wort.
  • Clinical Triad:
    • Autonomic Dysfunction: Hyperthermia, tachycardia, diaphoresis.
    • Neuromuscular Hyperactivity: Clonus (key finding), hyperreflexia (lower > upper limbs), rigidity.
    • Mental Status Changes: Agitation, confusion.
  • Management:
    • Discontinue all serotonergic agents.
    • Supportive care (cooling, hydration).
    • Cyproheptadine (5-HT2A antagonist) for severe cases.

⭐ A 2-week washout period is crucial when switching between MAOIs and SSRIs (5 weeks for fluoxetine) to prevent this reaction.

Clinical Triad of Serotonin Syndrome

High‑Yield Points - ⚡ Biggest Takeaways

  • Pharmacodynamic interactions involve one drug altering another's effect at the site of action.
  • Synergism: Combined effect is greater than the sum of individual effects (e.g., TMP-SMX).
  • Potentiation: A drug with no intrinsic effect boosts another's activity (e.g., Levodopa-Carbidopa).
  • Pharmacologic antagonism: Competition at the same receptor (e.g., naloxone reverses morphine).
  • Physiologic antagonism: Different receptors, opposing actions (e.g., insulin vs. glucagon).
  • Additive effects: The sum of individual actions from drugs with similar mechanisms.

Practice Questions: Pharmacodynamic interaction mechanisms

Test your understanding with these related questions

A 50-year-old woman presents with acute onset fever and chills for the past hour. She mentions earlier in the day she felt blue, so she took some St. John’s wort because she was told by a friend that it helps with depression. Past medical history is significant for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and depression managed medically with captopril, metformin, and fluoxetine. She has no history of allergies. Her pulse is 130/min, the respiratory rate is 18/min, the blood pressure is 176/92 mm Hg, and the temperature is 38.5°C (101.3°F). On physical examination, the patient is profusely diaphoretic and extremely irritable when asked questions. Oriented x 3. The abdomen is soft and nontender with no hepatosplenomegaly. Increased bowel sounds are heard in the abdomen. Deep tendon reflexes are 3+ bilaterally and clonus is elicited. The sensation is decreased in the feet bilaterally. Mydriasis is present. Fingerstick glucose is 140 mg/dL. An ECG shows sinus tachycardia but is otherwise normal. Which of the following is the most likely cause of this patient’s condition?

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Flashcards: Pharmacodynamic interaction mechanisms

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Buprenorphine, and butorphanol are -opioid _____

TAP TO REVEAL ANSWER

Buprenorphine, and butorphanol are -opioid _____

partial agonists

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