basic concepts and processes review

Question 1

what does an agonist do

Answer 1

produces a response

Question 2

what does an antagonist do

Answer 2

blocks or inhibits a response

Question 3

describe nonspecific drug effect

Answer 3

selective to certain receptors but those receptors may be in different organs or tissues

Question 4

describe nonselective

Answer 4

not selective to just one type of receptor, it can act on different receptors throughout the body

Question 5

describe therapetic index

Answer 5

ratio that compares drug toxicity to drug effectiveness

Question 6

describe serum drug levels

Answer 6

how much drug is in the bloodstream

Question 7

absorption

Answer 7

-process that occurs from the time a drug enters the body to the time it enters the bloodstream to be circulated to tissues
-affected by: dosage, form, route, administration site, food, or other drugs

Question 8

distribution

Answer 8

transport of drug molecules within the body

Question 9

metabolism

Answer 9

how the drug is inactivated

mainly liver

Question 10

excretion

Answer 10

elimation of drug from system

mainly kidneys

Question 11

trough

Answer 11

when drug level is the lowest

drawn right before next dose

Question 12

peak

Answer 12

when drug level is highest

Question 13

what factors affect pharmacokinetics

Answer 13

-dosage (loading vs maintenance)
-route
-drug-diet interactions
-drug-drug interactions
-patient variables

Question 14

what are black box warnings for

Answer 14

for serious life threatening adverse effects

Question 15

tolerance

Answer 15

when given the same dose of drug no longer illicits the same response

Question 16

cross tolerance

Answer 16

a person builds tolerance to one drug and it causes development of tolerance to a similar drug

Question 17

name some common adverse effects

Answer 17

-glucose alterations (hypoglycemia/hyperglycemia)
-electrolyte imbalances (hypokalemia/hyperkalemia)
-teratogenicity
-sensory effects (ocular or auditory damage)
-neurological effects (parkinson like symptoms, atropine like effects, general CNS effects)

Question 18

what is a drug allergy

Answer 18

body forms antibodies to a particular drug causing an immune response

Question 19

what are the four types of hypersensitivity reactions

Answer 19

1. anaphylactic
2. cytotoxic
3. serum sickness
4. delayed

Question 20

describe type 1 hypersensitivity

Answer 20

-immediate, occurs within minutes
-mild: itching, rhinitis
-severe: anaphylaxis, cardiac collapse

Question 21

describe type 2 hypersensitivity

Answer 21

-cytotoxic
-blood transfusion reactions

Question 22

describe type 3 hypersensitivity

Answer 22

-immune complex
-serum sickness
-rare

Question 23

describe type 4 hypersensitivity

Answer 23

-delayed
-tuberculin test, contact dermatitis, graft rejection

Question 24

name and describe the 5 FDA pregnancy categories that are no longer used

Answer 24

a) no risk
b) animals show no risk, or risk unconfirmed in humans
c) caution is advised, benefits may outweigh risks
d) evidence of risk
x) risk outweighs benefit

Question 25

how do you monitor toxicology

Answer 25

drug levels, therapeutic ranges

Question 26

what damage to organs may occur with drug overdose

Answer 26

-dermatological
-superinfections
-blood dyscrasias
-liver/renal injury

Question 27

a nurse is caring for a patient who has worsening liver disease. in monitoring his medication it is important to know that a patient with liver disease may have impaired drug…

Answer 27

metabolism

the liver is the main organ resposible for metabolism

Question 28

a patient with an overdose of an unknown oral drug usually receives which antidote?

Answer 28

activated charcoal

this is the “universal antidote” so giving it should block the absorption of the drug