Fundamentals of Pharmacology

Question 1

The movement of the drug

Answer 1

Absorption: drug moves form sites of administration to the blood

Distribution: drug moves from blood to site of action

Biotransformation: Drug changes from one from to another

Excretion: Drug is removed from the body

Question 2

Therapeutic response of drugs

Answer 2

Directly related to their level in the plasma

Question 3

The therapeutic range

Answer 3

Is the drug concentration between the minim effective range and the toxic concentration if the medication
For some drugs are wide and there is more room to play with dosages of the drug, while with others the range is quite narrow

Question 4

The therapeutic index

Answer 4

Used as a ratio of lethal dose to minimum effective dose
The lower the therapeutic index the more dangerous the drug to reach toxic effects

Question 5

Drugs with small therapeutic indexes

Answer 5

Warfarin
Gentamicin
Vancomycin
Methotrexate
Insulin
Cyclosporin
Levothyroxine
Carbamazepine
Lithium carbonate
Digoxin
Phenytoin
Theophylline

Question 6

Pharmacology Points to remember

Answer 6

Client should not take an antacid with medication because he antacid will affect the absorption of the medication

Enteric-coated and sustained–release tablets should be not be crushed, also, capsules should not be opened

The client should never adjust or change a medication dose or abruptly stop taking a medication

The nurse never adjusts or changes the client’s medication dosage and never discontinues a medication

The client needs to avoid taking any over-the-counter medications or any other medications, such as herbal preparations, unless they are approved for use by the HC

The client needs to avoid consuming alcohol-Medications are never administered if the prescription is difficult to read, is unclear, or identifies a medication dose that is not a normal one