Pharmacology of Drugs Homework - 10 points
The purpose of this homework is look at the chemical structure of a drug and the
chemistry or mechanism of action.
A good place to find the information required is:
http://www.rxlist.com This site is sometimes a little slow to load even with a fast
connection so be patient.
Look through the top 150 drugs on the bottom of the home page or type in the
name of one that you know about.
For full credit find the following information:
1. Brand name, generic name (if any), complete chemical name.
2. Find the chemical structure of the drug using: ChemFinder.
http://chemfinder.cambridgesoft.com/
Type in the name of the drug in the search box. This should give you the
chemical structure in a condensed form. Please write it out in a more expanded
form showing most of the carbons, hydrogen's, etc.
If you scroll down the page, you may find some interesting links.
List all of the functional groups that are present.
3. On the rxlist.com site, click on the CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY button to find
the Mechanism of Action for the drug. In other words, how does the drug work?
What natural chemical is mimicked or blocked. What enzyme is blocked? Or
what nerve receptor is mimicked or blocked? Is there one type of isomer that
works better than the other? Try to give as much detail as you can understand.
4. In the Pharmacokinetics section of the Clinical Pharmacology, what is
interesting about absorption or solubility or metabolism which is the breakdown
and excretion of the drug?
5. Next look in the INDICATIONS and Dosage button. What is the drug used
for?
6. Synthesis of the drug. You can try www.goole.com to search for a synthetic
method to make the drug. Try the name of the drug followed by the word
synthesis as your search words. What you get is not guaranteed to yield
anything useful, but I want you to give it a try anyway. Try to report on any
reactions that might relate to those we have discussed in the course. If you
are unsuccessful, please report that as well.
You may do a second report for 5 points of extra credit.