PHAR 300 Lecture Notes - Lecture 12: Ibuprofen, Acetyl Group, Abdominal Pain
Document Summary
Phar 300 lecture 11 non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (nsaid) Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (nsaids: steroid are more powerful used in serious situations and for acute needs when a powerful anti- inflammatory drug is needed. Non-steroidal drugs can be taken chronically because they do not have many serious side effects: everyone will have used one of these drugs at some point in their lives. Pharmacodynamics: arachidonic acid: 20 carbon polyunsaturated fatty acid, found in membranes. Fundamental building block for prostaglandins and leukotrienes (eicosanoids). Different enzymes act on arachidonic acid to create different families of compounds. Arachidonic acid is liberated from the membrane by phospholipase a2. It is acted on by cyclooxygenase enzymes (cox) to make prostaglandins. Prostaglandins are involved in many aspects, such as creating pain and promoting inflammation. Others are involved in protecting the stomach from the gastric acid secreted. Inflammation and pain are important essential physiological functions.