Pharmacology SAQ - Pharmacodynamics

1. Using opioids as examples describe and illustrate with graphs what you understand by the terms "potency", "efficacy", "partial agonist", "competitive antagonist", and "therapeutic index".

2. Briefly describe how drugs produce their pharmacological effects. Illustrate each mechanism with examples.

3. Define the terms “tolerance” and “tachyphylaxis”. Discuss the different mechanisms by which tolerance can develop, giving examples where appropriate.