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[[File:WBR0902.png|450px]]
[[File:WBR0902.png|450px]]
|Explanation=Efficacy is defined as the maximal effect a drug can produce. While a full agonist produces a maximal effect, a partial agonist can only produce a fraction of that effect i.e. has a lower efficacy. The figure demonstrates that when A is administered alone, a maximal response is observed. However, when A and B are combined, the curve is shifted downwards signifying a decrease in efficacy. The dose response curve demonstrates that the response reaches a plateau and does not increase despite an increase in the dose of drug A. This is the classical effect of a non-competitive inhibitor causing an irreversible decrease in efficacy. Phenoxybenzamine is a non-competitive inhibitor of norepinephrine that fits the dose-response curve displayed.
|Explanation=Efficacy is defined as the maximal effect a drug can produce. While a full agonist produces a maximal effect, a partial agonist can only produce a fraction of that effect i.e. has a lower efficacy. The figure demonstrates that when A is administered alone, a maximal response is observed. However, when A and B are combined, the curve is shifted downwards signifying a decrease in efficacy. The dose response curve demonstrates that the response reaches a plateau and does not increase despite an increase in the dose of drug A. This is the classical effect of a non-competitive inhibitor causing an irreversible decrease in efficacy. Phenoxybenzamine is a non-competitive inhibitor of norepinephrine that fits the dose-response curve displayed.
Had drug B been a competitive antagonist, the effect would have been observed as a decrease in potency not in efficacy. This signifies a relative decrease in efficacy at a certain dose that can be overcome by increasing the dose. the dose response curve would resemble the one shown below.
[[Image:Dose-responseNCA.png|450px]]
|AnswerA=Naloxone and morphine
|AnswerA=Naloxone and morphine
|AnswerAExp=Naloxone is a competitive antagonist of morphine. When a competitive antagonist is present, the potency of the agonist is altered and the curve of the effect of the agonist by increasing dose will be shifted towards the right.
|AnswerAExp=Naloxone is a competitive antagonist of morphine. When a competitive antagonist is present, the potency of the agonist is altered and the curve of the effect of the agonist by increasing dose will be shifted towards the right.
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|AnswerEExp=Phenoxybenzamine is a noncompetitive inhibitor of norepinephrine.  An increase in the concentration of norepinephrine is not able to overcome the effect of phenoxybenzamine.
|AnswerEExp=Phenoxybenzamine is a noncompetitive inhibitor of norepinephrine.  An increase in the concentration of norepinephrine is not able to overcome the effect of phenoxybenzamine.
|EducationalObjectives=Phenoxybenzamine is a noncompetitive inhibitor of norepinephrine that causes a decrease in its efficacy.
|EducationalObjectives=Phenoxybenzamine is a noncompetitive inhibitor of norepinephrine that causes a decrease in its efficacy.
|References=Lambert, DG. Drugs and receptors. Contin Educ Anaesth Crit Care Pain. 2004;4(6): 181-4
|RightAnswer=E
|RightAnswer=E
|WBRKeyword=Antagonist, Competitive antagonist, Non-competitive antagonist, Phenoxybenzamine, Norepinephrine,
|WBRKeyword=Antagonist, Competitive antagonist, Non-competitive antagonist, Phenoxybenzamine, Norepinephrine,
|Approved=Yes
|Approved=Yes
}}
}}

Revision as of 20:43, 9 March 2015

 
Author [[PageAuthor::Rim Halaby, M.D. [1] (Reviewed by Serge Korjian)]]
Exam Type ExamType::USMLE Step 1
Main Category MainCategory::Pharmacology
Sub Category SubCategory::General Principles
Prompt [[Prompt::A researcher is investigating the effects of two drugs, A and B, for blood pressure reduction in rats. The graph below is the dose-response curve of drug A when administered alone or when co-administered with drug B. Which of the following combinations has similar curve to that of A and B combined?

]]

Answer A AnswerA::Naloxone and morphine
Answer A Explanation AnswerAExp::Naloxone is a competitive antagonist of morphine. When a competitive antagonist is present, the potency of the agonist is altered and the curve of the effect of the agonist by increasing dose will be shifted towards the right.
Answer B AnswerB::Atropine and acetylcholine
Answer B Explanation AnswerBExp::Atropine is a competitive antagonist of acetylcholine. When a competitive antagonist is present, the potency of the agonist is altered and the curve of the effect of the agonist by increasing dose will be shifted towards the right.
Answer C AnswerC::Haloperidol and dopamine
Answer C Explanation AnswerCExp::haloperidol is a competitive antagonist of dopamine. When a competitive antagonist is present, the potency of the agonist is altered and the curve of the effect of the agonist by increasing dose will be shifted towards the right.
Answer D AnswerD::Ondansetron and serotonin
Answer D Explanation AnswerDExp::Serotonin is a competitive antagonist of ondansetron. When a competitive antagonist is present, the potency of the agonist is altered and the curve of the effect of the agonist by increasing dose will be shifted towards the right.
Answer E AnswerE::Noreprinephrine and phenoxybenzamine
Answer E Explanation AnswerEExp::Phenoxybenzamine is a noncompetitive inhibitor of norepinephrine. An increase in the concentration of norepinephrine is not able to overcome the effect of phenoxybenzamine.
Right Answer RightAnswer::E
Explanation [[Explanation::Efficacy is defined as the maximal effect a drug can produce. While a full agonist produces a maximal effect, a partial agonist can only produce a fraction of that effect i.e. has a lower efficacy. The figure demonstrates that when A is administered alone, a maximal response is observed. However, when A and B are combined, the curve is shifted downwards signifying a decrease in efficacy. The dose response curve demonstrates that the response reaches a plateau and does not increase despite an increase in the dose of drug A. This is the classical effect of a non-competitive inhibitor causing an irreversible decrease in efficacy. Phenoxybenzamine is a non-competitive inhibitor of norepinephrine that fits the dose-response curve displayed.

Had drug B been a competitive antagonist, the effect would have been observed as a decrease in potency not in efficacy. This signifies a relative decrease in efficacy at a certain dose that can be overcome by increasing the dose. the dose response curve would resemble the one shown below.


Educational Objective: Phenoxybenzamine is a noncompetitive inhibitor of norepinephrine that causes a decrease in its efficacy.
References: Lambert, DG. Drugs and receptors. Contin Educ Anaesth Crit Care Pain. 2004;4(6): 181-4]]

Approved Approved::Yes
Keyword WBRKeyword::Antagonist, WBRKeyword::Competitive antagonist, WBRKeyword::Non-competitive antagonist, WBRKeyword::Phenoxybenzamine, WBRKeyword::Norepinephrine
Linked Question Linked::
Order in Linked Questions LinkedOrder::