Chapter 3 - Core Concepts of Pharmacology Flashcards
1906 Pure Food & Drug Act
Forces manufacturers that produce drugs for sale in the United States to begin following minimum standards for drug purity, strength, and quality.
1938 Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act
Requires that all new prescription drugs and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs be deemed safe by the FDA before marketing drugs, cosmetics, and therapeutic devices to the public.
1970 Controlled Substances Act (CSA)
Categorizes drugs by the acceptable medical uses, the potential for drug abuse, and/or potential for dependency; requires those with prescribing or distributing privileges to have a DEA registration number to prevent fraudulent dispensing of medication.
1983 Orphan Drug Act
Gives financial incentives to manufacturers that develop drugs to treat rare diseases.
acute pain
a sudden onset of pain
chronic pain
prolonged pain
Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA)
Established to enforce provisions of the 1970 Controlled Substances Act.
drug legend
Statement warning that any distribution without a prescription is prohibited by federal law.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Federal agency that ensures drugs and devices are safe to use.
National Formulary (NF)
Book of preparations and standards for pharmaceuticals.
Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA) of 1990
Legislation that mandates pharmacies to ask customers if they would like to be educated about their medication at time of purchase.
over-the-counter (OTC)
Any medication bought without a prescription.
Schedule I
Listing of drugs not currently used in medical treatment that have a high potential for abuse.
Schedule II
Listing of drugs that have usage in medical treatment but with severe restrictions because of a high potential for abuse.
Schedule III
Listing of drugs currently used in medical treatment that have less of a potential for abuse than drugs in schedules I and II.
Schedule IV
Listing of drugs currently used in the medical treatment but have a slight potential for abuse; less than schedules II and III.
Schedule V
Currently used for medical treatment with less potential for abuse than drugs in schedule IV; have a slight possibility for abuse and might cause limited physical or psychological dependence.
United States Pharmacopeia (USP)
Collection of drug standards and testing that determines the strength, purity, and quality of a drug.
United States Pharmacopeia and National Formulary (USP-NF)
A reference compiled by combining the USP and NF to form one source.
brand names
Proprietary drug name owned by a company.
chemical name
The drug name used to describe the anatomic or molecular structure of a substance.
drug classification
A method used to group drugs in a meaningful way.
formulary
A list of medications offered in a particular hospital or healthcare system.
generic name
A name not owned by any particular pharmaceutical company.
official name
Name given by the USP/NF, after the drug has been approved for use.
pharmacist
Individual licensed to prepare and distribute medications.
pharmacogenetics
Pertains to genetic differences that can cause a drug to affect us in different ways, whether therapeutically or adversely.
pharmacogenomics
Analyzes human genes to better understand how an individual’s genetics affects the way drugs affect his or her body.
pharmacology
The study of the origin, uses, effects, and actions of chemicals in living organisms.
pharmacotherapy
The act of giving drugs targeted to treat disease.
pharmacy
Dispenses medications to the public.
pharmacy technicians
Individuals who assist and work under the direct supervision of pharmacists.
prescription
Written orders for a certain therapy or medication; also called scripts.
prototype
A drug that typifies a certain drug classification.
therapeutic level
Preferred level of a drug required to treat disease.
toxicology
The study of a chemicals and pharmacologic actions on the body with poisons and antidotes.
trade name
Proprietary name owned by a pharmaceutical company to market its creation to the public; also known as a brand name.
United States Adopted Names (USAN) Council
Group that gives names to generic medications.
absolute contraindication
Medication or procedure is life-threatening and the benefits do not outweigh the risks; should not be administered.
adverse reactions
Can occur suddenly or over time and range from patient discomfort to possible death; also known as side effects.
AHFS Drug Information (American Health-System Formulary Service)
A book primarily for pharmacists that covers such topics as drug stability and chemical information.
cautions
A list of certain patients for whom or conditions under which a drug should be used with close supervision.
contraindications
A list of reasons why a certain drug should not be given.
drug actions
The interactions between a drug and body at the cellular level.
interaction
List of items that can interact and change a drug’s effect.
labeled indication
Uses for what the drug is intended to treat.
nonlabeled indication
When a drug or medication is used to treat a condition for which it is not approved; may be used if enough research proves it beneficial.
Physician’s Desk Reference (PDR)
Collection of specific drug information required by the FDA from drug manufacturers that includes photos of medications.
relative contraindication
A drug or procedure that is only done if the benefits outweigh the risks.
side effects
Undesirable experiences of medication that can occur quickly or over time; also known as adverse reactions.
chempinformatics
The usage of analytical data about the properties, structure, and molecular activities of chemical compounds used to design a drug.
Investigational new drugs (IND)
Three-step process for a drug to be approved by the FDA for clinical use.
local effect
Stimulation of a certain part or region of the body.
pharmacognosy
Studies the natural sources of pharmaceuticals.
semisynthetic
Drug having a natural origin with a chemically altered variation.
synthetic
chemically manufactured drug
systemic effect
effect of a drug on the entire body
absorption
Drug dissolution into the patient’s bloodstream.
agonist
Substance that binds to a receptor site and causes a response.
additive
Effect that occurs when two drugs are taken separately, but at the same time together, summative affect when two drugs are taken together.
potentiation
When two or more drugs have an increased response or a prolonged effect when given together.
synegism
Effect when two drugs work together to reach an increased effect much greater than if either drug was given alone.
antagonist
Blocks a desired effect; when two drugs are given and they cancel out the desired effect.
bioavailability
The measurement of how much of a drug is found in our bloodstream.
biotransforms
The chemical changes of a drug in the body as a result of metabolism.
cumulative effect
Occurs when a drug is not eliminated from the body and the drug level accumulates.
excretion
Stage at which the drug has been broken down to be eliminated from the body.
ionized
A charged state in which drugs will not be absorbed until they reach a certain environment that allows them to become nonionized; then they can be absorbed.
lipid (fat) solubility
Ability to dissolve in lipids (fats); substances with low-fat solubility are absorbed at a slower rate, while those with a high-fat solubility are absorbed faster.
metabolized
When a drug is broken down or biotransformed, primarily done in the liver.
nonionized
Noncharged state during which drugs can be absorbed through the membranes of the body and into the blood.
pH
In regards to drugs, it is the range from acidity to alkalinity in the GI tract.
pharmacodynamics
Actions from a drug in the body.
pharmacokynetics
The movement of a drug through the body from absorption to elimination.
placebo effect
Fake pill or sugar pill that the patient believes is medicine to treat his or her condition.
prodrugs
Drugs that only become active as they are broken down into metabolites.
selective distribution
Occurs when drugs have a greater affinity to reach a certain area than others, such as a cell or organ in the body.
therapeutic range
Amount of a drug present in the blood that gives the desired effect without causing any toxicity or side effects.
Volume of Distribution (VB)``
Areas where a drug can be distributed in the body.
anaphylactic reaction
A severe and potentially life-threatening allergic reaction to a drug.
booster dose
Given to maintain the desired immune response of a primary immunization.
dependence
Occurs when a person has a desire or a need for a drug.
half-life (T 1/2)
The time for a drug dose to decrease by half after it is administered.
hypersensitivity
When a patient has an allergic reaction to a substance.
idiosyncratic reaction
Type of adverse drug reaction that is uncommon in response to a drug.
lethal dose
a drug dose causing death
loading dose
Larger initial dose given to quickly establish the desired therapeutic effect.
maintenance dose
Drug dose given to maintain a desired dose of drug in the blood.
maximum dose
The largest dose without causing a toxic effect.
minimum dose
The smallest dose of a drug required to obtain the desired therapeutic effect.
paradoxical reaction
Drug reaction that does the opposite of what was intended.
pregnancy category A
Category of drug that has been studied and shown to have no adverse fetal effects.
pregnancy category B
Category of drug tested on animals with no adverse effects but not tested on pregnant women.
pregnancy category C
Category of drug with no convincing studies done on animals or pregnant women to determine adverse effects.
pregnancy category D
Category of drugs showing adverse effects to fetus and given only when benefits to mother outweigh fetal risk.
pregnancy category X
Category of drugs showing adverse fetal effects and not to be used under any circumstances.
steady state
Method of drug administration where the same amount of drug is eliminated as administered therefore giving a predicable effect.
teratogenic effect
Drugs that can cause physical malformations in a fetus.
therapeutic dose
Is the dose needed to obtain the desired effect.
tolerance
Process that occurs when a dose of a drug is taken repeatedly and has less effect on the person, so a larger dose is required to reach the desired effect.
toxic dose
Side effects that can result in poisoning the patient.
