FINAL EXAM Flashcards
absorption
tramission of med from site of entry to bloodstream
rate of absorption
- how soon med takes effect
- affected by formulation, route of admin
What determines how strong the effect of a med will be?
amount of med absorbed
first-pass effect
med goes through liver first and is partly metabolized, reducing the amount available to cause therapeutic effect
pros and cons of PO route
pros and cons of IV route
distribution
transportation of med from blood stream to site of action
traffic
- perfusion
- what’s in the way
- how fast it’s moving
- ability to travel between cells
plasma protein binding
- some meds need to bind to protein for transportation
- albumin most common
- meds can compete for binding sites
unbound drug
- free drug = drug effects
- can lead to toxicity
- check serum protein if giving multiple protein-binding meds
metabolism
- biotransformation
- turns drug into less active or inactive form
- happens primarily in liver, but also in kidneys, lungs, bowel, blood
factors affecting metabolism
- requires higher dose
- ↑ enzymes: rapid metabolism
- first-pass effect (PO): inactivates portion of dose
- possible toxicity
- similar meds: use same pathway
- requires lower dose
- nutritional status: ↓ enzymes produced
toxicity
- unbound drug accumulation
- can be caused by
- poor metabolism
- poor excretion
- competing drugs
- check organ fxn, plasma drug levels before admin
- know s/sx of toxicity for meds you give
- stop med, notify provider
- give antidote if applicable
hepatotoxicity
- liver highly susceptible
- alterations in liver enzyme may not show sx
- polypharmacy ↑ risk
- teaching: Tylenol, ETOH ↑ risk
- assess fxn before giving meds
s/sx of hepatotoxicity
- jaundice: yellowing of skin, sclera
- fatigue
- loss of appetite
- N&V
- wt loss
- dark or tea-colored urine
excretion
- primarily through kidneys, but other pathways exist (sweat)
- kidney fxn will affect excretion
- check BUN, Cr
- kidney dz = smaller dose
MEC
minimum effective concentration
minimum effective concentration (MEC)
lowest amount of drug needed in blood to produce therapeutic effect
therapeutic range
drug blood level at which therapeutic effect is achieved, but toxicity is not
therapeutic index
- width of therapeutic range
- high = better safety margin
- low = high risk (narrow therapeutic range)
- close monitoring of plasma drug levels required
- trough levels drawn immediately before next dose
- peak levels drawn at time indicated by pharmacy
half life
- time it takes for med in body to drop by 50%
- short (4-8 hr): more frequent dosing
- long: less frequent dosing, takes longer time to reach plateau
assessment before medication therapy
- health hx
- age
- chief complaint
- all Dx health problems
- adverse effects/side effects
- herbal/natural products used
- caffeine, tobacco, ETOH, street drug use
- pt’s understanding of med purpose
- pt’s beliefs, concerns, feelings about med
- FOOD AND MED ALLERGIES
- physical exam - focused or comprehensive
components of Rx
- pt name
- date and time of Rx
- name of med
- dosage of med
- route of admin
- time and frequency
- signature of provider
- ALL REQUIRED
six rights of safe med administration
- right medication
- right dose
- right route
- right time
- right documentation
- 7TH RIGHT: right of pt refusal
common med errors
- wrong med of IV fluid
- incorrect dose or IV rate
- wrong pt
- wrong route
- wrong time
- admin of known allergic med
- omission of dose
- inccorect D/C of med or IV fluid
how to prevent med errors
- know about the medication
- get info about pt’s Dx and conditions (allergies, organ failure, deficiencies, etc.)
- know pt allergies
- get assessment data (VS, labs, etc.)
- omit or delay as indicated by pt condition, and NOTIFY PROVIDER
- practice six rights every time
- interpret Rx accurately; look out for
- error-prone abbreviations
- confused medication names
- high-alert meds
- confusing decimals
- verify with provider if unclear or seems inappropriate
when to report med errors
EVERY TIME, as soon as pt is taken care of
culture of safety
- ALWAYS report med errors
- focus on system changes to prevent errors
- point out near misses
- notify provider of error; pt should be told
- follow facility policy on reporting
- don’t mention reporting form in pt chart
side effect
- a secondary effect of a drug
- mild, do not require stopping medication
- example: drowsiness with morphine
adverse effect
- undesired, inadvertent, unexpected, SEVERE response to med
- stop med immediately, treat rxn
- report to FDA medWatch
anticholinergic effects
- muscarinic receptor blockade
- most effects in
- eyes
- smooth muscle
- exocrine glands
- heart
- teaching: how to minimize dicomfort (↑ fluids, etc.)
- ABCDs
- agitation
- blurred vision
- constipation/confusion
- dry mouth
- stasis of urine/sweating
- AKA
- can’t pee
- can’t see
- can’t spit
- can’t shit
immunosuppression
- decreased or absent immune response
- agranulocytosis: caused by some meds that damage bone marrow
- immunosuppressant meds (i.e. steroids) mask sx (fever, inflammation, etc.)
- monitor for delayed wound healing, s/sx of infection
- teaching: avoid contagions (hand sanitizer, sick people, mask, etc.)
agranulocytosis
- ↓ in infection-fighting granulocytes in the blood
- may occur
- in some leukemias
- after treatments toxic to bone marrow (e.g., chemotherapeutic agents; clozapine)
non-opioid analgesics
- pain meds w/o opioid
- pain assessment: faces, 0-10, FLACC
- for mild-moderate pain
- desired outcome: ↓ pain, ↓ fever, ↓ inflammation
- also used as
- antipyretic (no ASA in children)
- anti-inflammatory (not acetaminophen)
acetaminophen
- non-opioid analgesic, antipyretic
- modulates pain signal transmission by slowing production of prostaglandins in CNS
- route: OTC PO, Rx IV forms
- interactions
- ETOH: > 1-2 drinks/day
- caution with warfarin (bleeding risk)
- read labels, avoid OD with combo meds
acetaminophen toxicity
- one of the most common ODs
- antidote
- acetylcysteine
- IV or PO
- within 8-10 hr of ingestion
- higher initial dose
-
toxic dose (if available): > 7.5 g in adults, 150 mg/kg in children
- max safe dose = 4 g/day for adults, 90 mg/kg in children
- interventions
- labs
- electrolytes
- LFT, BUN, Cr
- acetaminophen level, toxicology
- CBC, PT
- BG
- urine tox screen
- Hcg (if appropriate for pt)
- activated charcoal (best within 4 hr of ingestion)
- ICU
- labs
- s/sx
- nausea
- vomiting
- malaise
- diarrhea
- diaphoresis
- abd pain
- ↑ blood/urine level of acetaminophen
- ↑ liver enzyme in first day
- jaundice, altered coagulation in first 36 hr
- liver failure
- coma
- death
NSAIDs
- MOA: inhibits enzyme that produces prostaglandins (COX-1 and COX-2) → ↓ inflammation, pain, fever
- complications
- ↑ risk of GI ulcer, bleeding, renal impairment
- ↑ risk of MI and stroke (except ASA)
- interactions
- risk of bleed with anticoagulants, glucocorticoids, other NSAIDs
- admin
- stop as directed before procedures
- notify provider about bad SE: bleeding, N&V, abd pain
- routes: PO, IV, IM
- contraindication: hypersensitivity to ASA (applies to all NSAIDs)
- precautions
- bleeding disorders
- GI bleed
- severe hepatic, renal, or CV dz
- pregnancy: safe use not established, avoid during second half
complications of ASA
- Reye syndrome (rare, but serious)
- salicylism (mild toxicity)
Reye syndrome
- rare, but serious
- happens when used as antipyretic in children with viral illness
- s/sx
- diarrhea
- tachypnea
- vomiting
- severe fatigue
- fever
- hypoglycemia → confusion, sz, LOC
slicylism
- mild ASA toxicity
- s/sx
- tinnitus
- sweating
- HA
- dizziness
- resp alkalosis
- stop taking and notify provider
ASA toxicity
- progresses from slicylism
- s/sx
- high fever
- sweating
- acidosis
- dehydration
- electrolyte imbalances
- coma
- resp depression
- medical emergency
- interventions
- gastric lavage/activated charcoal
- hemodialysis
- cooling with tepid water
- IV fluid correction
- acidosis: Tx with bicarb
opioid agonist common side effects
- resp depression
- monitor VS
- do not give if RR < 12
- worse with concurrent ETOH, CNS depressants
- sedation
- fall risk
- monitor VS
- avoid certain activities
- worse with concurrent ETOH, CNS depressants
- constipation
- prevention (↑ fluid and fiber, docusate sodium)
- acute Tx: laxative
- long-term use: opioid antagonist
- N&V: antiemetic (promethazine = synergist, or ondansetron
- orthostatic hypotension
- fall risk
- move slowly
- worse with antihypertensives
- urinary retention
- monitor I&O
- encourage voiding Q4H
- assess for distention
- worse with BPH and concurrent anticholinergics
opioid long-term use
-
physical dependence
- can lead to abuse or illicit use
- withdrawal: must taper
-
tolerance
- diminished therapeutic response
- will not get relief or SE from normal dose
acute opioid OD
- s/sx
- resp depression
- coma
- pinpoint pupils
- Tx
- stop med
- CPR
- antidote: naloxone
- mechanical ventilation
PCA
panti-controlled analgesia
PCA pump
- allows self-admin
- pt must be awake
- don’t let family push button
- on-demand only or basal rate with PRN dose
- when switching to PO: ensure adequate pain control