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Pharmacology > Background and Foundational Concepts > Flashcards

Background and Foundational Concepts Flashcards

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1
Q

What is a Drug?

A

Any chemical that affects the processes of a living organism

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2
Q

What is Pharmacology?

A

The study or science of drugs

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3
Q

Chemical Drug name

A

Describes the drug’s chemical composition

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4
Q

Generic Drug Name

A

Nonproprietary name given by Health Canada

Ex: Acetaminophen

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5
Q

Trade Drug Name

A

Proprietary name for a drug that has a registered trademark

Ex: Tylenol

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6
Q

Pharmaceutics

A

The study of preparing and dispensing drugs, including how various dosage forms influence the way the drug affects the body.

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7
Q

Pharmacokinetics

A

The study of what the body does to the drug, including absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of drugs

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8
Q

Pharmacodynamics

A

What the drug does to the body. Examines the properties of drugs and their pharmacological interactions with body protein receptors

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9
Q

Pharmacotherapeutics

A

The clinical use of drugs to prevent and treat diseases

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10
Q

Pharmacognosy

A

The study of natural drug sources (plants and animals)

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11
Q

What are the 3 phases of drug activity?

A

Pharmaceutical phase, Pharmacokinetic phase, Pharmacodynamic phase

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12
Q

Pharmaceutical phase

A

The disintegration of dosage form and dissolution of a drug

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13
Q

Drug absorption Rates

A

Liquids, elixirs, syrups Fast
Suspension solution
Powders
Capsules
Tablets
Coated tablets
Enteric-coated Tablets Slow

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14
Q

The pharmacokinetic phase includes…

A

Absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion

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15
Q

Absorption

A

The transportation of the unmetabolized drug from the site of administration to the body circulation system where it becomes AVAILABLE

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16
Q

Factors that affect absorption

A

Administration route
- Injection, oral transdermal
Food or fluids
Dosage formulation
Status of the absorptive surface
Rate of blood flow to the small intestines
Aciditiy of the stomach
-Absorbs faster in acidic
Status of GI motility

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17
Q

What is the First-Pass Effect?

A

The degree of metabolic breakdown of an orally administered drug that occurs in the liver before it reaches the systemic circulation

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18
Q

Create an Example of First-Pass Effect

A

A drug given orally is metabolized by the liver, reducing bioavailability (high first-pass). The same drug given through IV bypasses the liver so more drug reaches the circulation

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19
Q

Routes that Bypass the Liver

A

Sublingual - Under the tongue
Buccal - In the cheek
IV
Intranasal
Transdermal
Vaginal
IM
SubQ
Inhalation

Rectal - Has a higher first-pass effect than the others on this list

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20
Q

What is Distribution?

A

Refers to the transport of a drug by the bloodstream to its site of action

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21
Q

Distribution is influenced by…

A

Blood flow
Affinity to the tissues
Protein Binding
Volume of Drug Distribution

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22
Q

Volume of Drug Distribution is:

A

A theoretical volume used to describe the potential volumes within various areas where the drug may be distributed (Compartments)

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23
Q

What are the various compartments of the body? What does this mean in terms of drug distribution?

A

Blood (intravascular space)
Total body water
Body fat
Other tissues and organs

A hydrophilic drug will have a small volume of distribution and high blood concentration, while a lipophilic drug will have a large volume of distribution and low blood concentration

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24
Q

Metabolism (AKA Biotransformation) is…

A

The biochemical alteration of a drug into:

An inactive metabolite
A more potent metabolite
A more soluble compound
A less active metabolite

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25
Where does biotransformation take place?
Primarily in the liver, but also: Skeletal muscle Kidneys Lungs Plasma Intestinal mucosa
26
What is the name of the enzyme most responsible for hepatic biotransformation? What does it mainly target?
Cytochrome P-450 enzyme AKA Microsomal Enzymes Largely targeted against lipid-soluble drugs. Water-soluble drugs are more easily metabolized with simpler chemical reactions such as hydrolysis
27
Factors that alter hepatic biotransformation
Age (Youth and elderly) Genetics Diseases Use of other medication
28
Excretion is...
The elimination of drugs from the body
29
Where does excretion take place?
Mainly in the kidneys, but also in the Liver/bile Feces Lungs Saliva Sweat Breastmilk
30
What is a half-life?
The time it takes for one-half of the original amount of a drug to be eliminated from the body
31
What is the half-life affected by?
Metabolism and elimination
32
Why is it useful to know the half-life of a drug?
It helps to determine the steady state
33
What is steady state?
The physiological state where the amount of drug eliminated is equal to the amount absorbed with each dose administration
34
After how many half-lives does steady state typically occur?
4-5
35
Why is a steady-state desired in medication administration?
It is desired to achieve a therapeutic effect over time
36
What is the onset of a drug?
The time required for the drug to elicit its minimum therapeutic response
37
What is the peak of a drug?
The time required for the drug to reach its highest blood or plasma concentration and maximal therapeutic response
38
What is the duration of a drug?
The length of time that the drug concentration is sufficient to elicit a therapeutic response/pharmacological effect
39
Pharmacodynamics definition
The study of the mechanism of drug actions in the living tissues What the drug does to the body
40
What is a therapeutic effect?
Occurs when a drug corrects or makes a positive change in a physiological fault
41
What is a Mechanism of Action? What are the 3 called?
The way the drug produces a therapeutic effect There are 3 ways drugs can exert their actions: Receptor Interactions Enzyme Interactions Nonselective Interactions
42
Receptor
A reactive site on the surface or inside of a cell. Usually a protein structure within the cell membrane
43
Receptor Interactions
The drug with the strongest affinity (best fit) for a specific receptor will bind to and elicit the greatest response. They can either elicit or block a physiological response
44
Enzyme
Protein molecules that catalyze nearly every biochemical reaction in a cell
45
Enzyme Interaction
Drug chemically binds to the enzyme and alters the physiological response of the enzyme by enhancing (less common) or inhibiting (more common) the enzyme's interactions with its normal target molecules in the body
46
Non-specific interaction. What drugs are commonly used this way?
The main targets are cell membranes and various cellular processes/metabolic activities. Drugs interfere with or chemically alter cellular metabolic processes Cancer drugs and antibiotics are commonly used this way.
47
What should we assess before administering drugs?
Current medications - Precribed, OTC, natural health products, illicit drugs Pregnancy - Real of potential, breastfeeding Concurrent illnesses, allergies, sensitivities Contraindications - Any patient condition, especially disease, that makes the use of the drug dangerous
48
What are pharmacotherapeutic implementation?
The intent of the therapy, as well as the psychomotor skills of administering drugs
49
Acute Therapy
Treats something severe and immediate. Often involves more intensive drug therapy
50
Maintenance Therapy
Does not eradicate problems but prevents the progression of a disease or condition Treatment of chronic illnesses
51
Supplemental Therapy
Supplies the body with a substance needed to maintain a normal function Ex: Insulin - Diabetes Iron - Anemia
52
Palliative Therapy
The goal is to make the patient as comfortable as possible. It provides relief from symptoms, pain, stress, etc End of life care
53
Supportive Therapy
Maintains the integrity of bodily functions while the patient is recovering from illness of trauma Ex: fluids, electrolytes - dehydration from flu Fluids, blood - blood loss during surgery
54
Prophylactic Therapy
Provided to prevent illness or other undesirable outcomes during planned events Ex: vaccines
55
Empirical Therapy
Based on clinical probabilities. Used when a pathological condition has an uncertain but high likelihood of occurrence based on symptoms Ex: use of antibiotics prior to test results
56
Monitoring client condition
Therapeutic effect Predictable side effects Adverse effects/reactions (serious and unpredictable) Toxic effects (all drugs are capable - cumulative reactions)
57
Monitoring drug interactions
The alteration of action of a drug by: Other prescribed drugs OTC drugs Herbal therapies/natural health products Food
58
Drug-drug interactions
The alteration of a drug by another drug
59
Additive Effect
Two drugs with similar actions are given together. The combined effects of the drugs combine and this results in the total effect of both drugs being given Ex: tylenol and advil
60
Synergistic Effect
Occur when the action of one drug enhances the action of another. The combined effects are greater than those achieved if either drug was given alone BP beta-blocker + calcium channel blocker Can be dangerous: Alcohol + tylenol = liver damager
61
Antagonistic Effect
Occurs when the combination of two drugs results in drug effects that are less effective than if the drugs were given seperately Ex: antacids + tetracycline
62
Drug incompatibility
Occurs when 2 parenteral drugs or solutions are mixed together and the result is a chemical deterioration of one or both drugs Ex: parenteral furosemide + heparin sodium
63
Adverse Drug Event (ADE). What are the 2 main categories?
A broad term for any undesired occurrence involving medications the 2 most common broad categories are: Med error Adverse drug reaction
64
Teratogenic Drug Effect
How medications can harm a fetus in utero
65
Mutagenic
Alteration of DNA or RNA by a medication
66
Carcinogenic
Cancer-causing drugs
67
What is a pharmacotherapeutic evaluation?
Reassessing the client condition and therapeutic effectiveness of pharmacotherapy
68
What are the 10 rights of medication administration?
Right patient Right drug Right dose Right route/site Right time/frequency Right reason Right education Right to refuse Right assessment/evaluation Right documentation
69
What is the Food and Drugs Act? What is its purpose?
The primary piece of legislation governing foods, drugs, cosmetics, and medical devices in Ontario It protects consumers from drugs that are contaminated, adulterated, and unsafe It addresses drugs that are labelled falsely or have misleading/deceptive labels
70
What is the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act? What is its purpose?
Provides the requirements for the control and sale fo narcotics, controlled drugs, and substances of misuse Makes it illegal to possess, traffic, produce, import, or export controlled substances
71
Over-the-Counter (OTC) Drugs
Drugs that you can purchase at a pharmacy
72
Restricted Access Drug
You must ask the pharmacist in order to purchase this drug Ex: insulin, loperamide
73
Pharmacy Only
This type of drug can only be purchased at a pharmacy Ex: Antihistamines, Ulcer meds
74
General Retail
This type of drug can be purchased in general retail and grocery stores Ex: Tylenol, nicotine gum
75
Criteria for OTC Status
Consumer must be able to easily diagnose condition and monitor effectiveness Drug should have: favourable adverse affect profile, limited drug interaction profile, low misuse potential Drug should be easy to use and easy to monitor
76
Prescription Drugs
Food and Drug Regulations (Schedule F) lists drugs that must be sold by prescription.

Pharmacology (26 decks)

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