2.8 Questions
(1) Explainthemeaningoftheterms(a)leadcompound,(b)excipient,(c)parenteral
administration, (d) pharmacophore and (e) prodrug.(2) State the general factors that need to be considered when designing a drug.
(3) Distinguish between parenteral and enteral routes of administration.
(4) Define the terms pharmacokinetic phase and pharmacodynamic phase in the
context of drug action. List the main general factors that affect these phases.(5) The drug amphetamine (PhCH 2 CH(NH 2 )CH 3 binds to the protein albumin in
the blood stream. Predict how a reduction in pH would be expected to influ-
ence this binding. Albumin is negatively charged at pH 7.4 and electrically
neutral at pH 5.0.(6) Discuss the general effects that stereoisomers could have on the activity of a
drug.QUESTIONS 55