Final Exam Flashcards
Pharmacodynamics
The study of the interactions between drugs and their receptors and the series of events that result in a pharmacologic response
Pharmacokinetics
The study of mathematical relationships among the ADME of individual medicines over time.
What is the difference between an agonist and an antagonist?
Agonists are drugs that interact with a receptor and stimulate a response.
(Eg. opioids)
Antagonists attach to a receptor but do not stimulate a response. (Eg. narcan, naloxone)
Partial agonists interact with a receptor to stimulate a response but inhibit other responses (eg. tramadol)
What are the 10 “rights” of medication administration?
Patient Educated (You and client) Time Evaluation Drug Dosage Documentation Route Reason Right to Refuse
Enteric/ Enteral Route
Drug administered into GI tract by oral, rectal or nasogastric routes. eg. pills taken orally
Slowest route
Parenteral Route
Bypass GI tract by using subcutaneous (SC), Intramuscular (IM), and topical administration
eg. Gravol IM, most immunizations IM, Depo shot IM, Insulin SC, Heparin SC.
Percutaneous Route
Through the skin
Includes inhalation, sublingual, buccal and topical.
eg. Vitamin B12 sublingual, nitroglycerin sub and topical
3 Drug Action Phases
- Onset of action - drug is present in system and sufficient amount for effect.
- Peak Action - maximum therapeutic effect
- Duration of action - how long pharmacological effect lasts
What factors influence the onset of drug action?
Age Weight Metabolic Rate Illness Tolerance Dependance Cumulative effect Psychologic
Side Effect
Additional effect on the body, not necessarily bad.
eg. decreased appetite, clearing skin
Adverse Effect
Undesirable side effects
eg. diarrhea, constipation, body odour, dry skin
Allergic Reaction
Adverse side effect to a drug due to overstimulation of the immune system.
Teratogens
Drugs that cause harm to a fetus by producing birth defects.
Derived from the greek term meaning monster
Carcinogen
Drugs that induce cancer in living cells
eg. chemicals in cigarettes
Anaphylactic shock
A life threatening allergic reaction.
Throat closes, unable to breath.
Drug Seeking Behaviour
When a person actively works to get more drugs.
These people may be candidates for placebo drugs.
Drug Toxicity
Sever adverse effect to a drug, or too much of a drug is administered for that person.
Also considered to be an adverse reaction
Dependence
Physical: the need for the drug, often seen with narcotics. The physical symptoms of withdrawal are present
Psychological: the emotional need for the drug. Often occurs with the same drugs as physical dependence.
Tolerance
When a person begins to require a higher dosage to produce the same effects that a lower dose once did.
Cumulative effects
Drug may accumulate in the body if the next dose is administered before the previous dose has been metabolized or excreted. Excessive drug accumulation may lead to drug toxicity.
Drug interactions
Actions of one drug is altered by the action of another drug.
This occurs in two ways. The action increases the action of one or both drugs, or the action decreases the action of one or both drugs.
Additive effect
Two drugs with similar actions are taken for a DOUBLE effect.
eg. tylenol and advil
Synergistic effect
The combined effect of two drugs is greater than the sum of the effects of each drug given alone.
eg. codeine and ASA
Antagonist effect
One drug interferes with the action of another.
eg. many drugs and grapefruit
Not necessarily bad but it disrupts the action of that drug
