ChemCases.Com
Drug Pathways and Chemical Concepts
Prof. Sally Boudinot

Phenobarbitol Illustrates Drug Pathways and Chemical Concepts

We rely on drugs to make us healthy when we are sick and to keep us healthy when we are well.  We can:

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swallow them or

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inject them or

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inhale them.

but the trick is to make these drugs chemically available to our body's systems as they are needed.

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Certain derivatives of barbituric acid - the barbiturates - have a sedative effect when ingested.  Their discovery and the development of compounds with different physiological properties illustrate chemical concepts:
  • Structures that are similar to fatty molecules ar required to deliver a drug.
  • The rate of drug delivery depends upon the concentration of the drug and the surface area at which absorption can occur.
  • Acid/base properties guide us in understanding solubility and reaction rates.

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Continue with: Concept Map on GI Tract

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ChemCases.Com is an NSF supported curriculum project.  The principles of General Chemistry can be linked to the responsible decision making that scientists and others make in the development and use of successful products.  This case is one of a series developed at Kennesaw State University.  Please see a full description of the program at ChemCases.Com

Principal Investigator
Laurence I. Peterson, Dean
College of Science and Mathematics
Kennesaw State University
1000 Chastain Rd.
Kennesaw, GA 30144-5591
770-423-6160
FAX 770-423-6530
email lpeterso@ksumail.kennesaw.edu

Program Director
Matthew E. Hermes
76 Meridian Rd.
Beaufort, SC 29907
843-322-0486
email hayden@islc.net

Prof. Sally Boudinot
College of Pharmacy
University of Georgia
Athens, GA
sallyb@rx.uga.edu