Intro to Pharm

Question 1

What is the chemical name?

Answer 1

It describes the drug’s chemical structure

Question 2

What is the generic name?

Answer 2

It is the official, nonproprietary name for the drug

Question 3

What is the brand (trade) name?

Answer 3

Is chosen by the drug company and is usually a registered trademark. (also known as proprietary name)

Question 4

What are over-the-counter (OTC) drugs?

Answer 4

• Are found to be safe and appropriate for use without the direct supervision of a health care provider.
• Do not need a prescription
• Can include vitamin supplements, cold remedies, analgesics, antacids, laxatives, antihistamines, sleep aids, nasal sprays, weight-controlled drugs, drugs for dermatitis.
• They contain the same active ingredients, potentially leading to overdose for certain drugs.

Question 5

What is pharmacokinetics?

Answer 5

It is the process of drug movement throughout the body necessary to achieve drug action.

Question 6

What are the four processes of pharmacokinetics?

Answer 6

1) Absorption
2) Distribution
3) Metabolism (biotransformation)
4) Excretion (elimination)

Question 7

What is drug absorption?

Answer 7

It is the movement of the drug into the bloodstream after administration

Question 8

What drugs do not pass through the GI tract?

Answer 8

Eyedrops, eardrops, nasal sprays, respiratory inhalants, transdermal drugs, sublingual drugs, and parenteral drugs

Question 9

What is drug distribution?

Answer 9

It is the movement of the drug from the circulation to body tissues.

Question 10

What is drug distribution influenced by?

Answer 10

It is influenced by vascular permeability and permeability of cell membranes, regional blood flow and pH, cardiac output, tissue perfusion, the ability of the drug to bind tissue and plasma proteins, and the drugs lipid solubility

Question 11

Where are drugs easily distributed?

Answer 11

They are easily distributed in highly perfused organs such as the liver, heart, and kidney.

Question 12

What is drug metabolism (biotransformation)?

Answer 12

It is the process by which the body chemically changes drugs into a form that can be excreted.

Question 13

What is the primary site of metabolism?

Answer 13

The liver

Question 14

When the drug metabolism rate is decreased, excess drug accumulation can occur and can lead to ______.

Answer 14

Toxicity

Question 15

What is a prodrug?

Answer 15

It is a compound that is metabolized into an active pharmacological substance

• They are often designed to improve drug bioavailability

Question 16

What is the drug half-life (t1/2)?

Answer 16

It is the time it takes for the amount of drug in the body to be reduced by half

• A drug goes through several half-lives before complete elimination occurs, and drug half-life is used to determine dosing interval

Question 17

What is drug excretion?

Answer 17

It is the elimination of drugs from the body, is through the kidneys

Question 18

Where are drugs also excreted?

Answer 18

It can also be excreted through bile, the lungs, saliva, sweat, and breast milk.

Question 19

What is pharmacodynamics?

Answer 19

It is the study of the effects of drugs on the body

Question 20

Drugs?

Answer 20

A chemical agent that can produce a biological response within the body

Question 21

Biologics?

Answer 21

Biologics are agents naturally produced in animal cells, by microorganisms, or by the body itself. E.g. hormones, vaccines, antibodies.

Question 22

Complementary and Alternative Medicine?

Answer 22

Herbal supplements, minerals, acupuncture, massage

Question 23

Phases of Drug Approval?

Answer 23

1) Preclinical research and development
2) Clinical trial
3) FDA reviews NDA
4) Manufacturing

Question 24

What is the peak drug level?

Answer 24

It is the HIGHEST plasma concentration of a drug at a specific time, and it indicated the rate of drug absorption

Question 25

What is the trough drug level?

Answer 25

It is the LOWEST plasma concentration of a drug, and it measures the rate at which the drug is eliminated

• They are drawn just BEFORE the next dose of drug regardless of route of adiminstration

Question 26

What are side effects?

Answer 26

• They are secondary effects of drug therapy.
• ALL drugs have side effects

-Side effects can be predictable and range from inconvenient to severe or life threatening

Question 27

What are adverse drug reactions (ADRs)?

Answer 27

They are unintentional, unexpected reactions to drug therapy that occur at normal drug dosages

• Adverse drug reactions are ALWAYS undesirable and must be reported and documented

Question 28

What is drug toxicity?

Answer 28

It occurs when drug levels exceed the therapeutic range; toxicity may occur secondary to overdose (intentional to unintentional) or drug accumulation

Question 29

What are some factors that influence drug toxicity?

Answer 29

1) Diseases
2) Genetics
3) Age

Question 30

What are controlled substances?

Answer 30

They are categorized into five schedules

Question 31

What is toxic concentration?

Answer 31

The level of drug that will result in serious adverse effect

Question 32

What is an onset of action?

Answer 32

The amount of time it takes to produce a therapeutic effect

Question 33

A patient sustains significant burns to the skin and is experiencing fluid shift associated with edema in the fluid overload phase. The nurse would anticipate that this will interfere most with which phase of pharmacodynamics?

a) Absorption
b) Distribution
c) Metabolism
d) Excretion

Answer 33

b) Distribution

Question 34

What are the 3 phases of drug action?

Answer 34

1) Pharmaceutic
2) Pharmacokinetics
3) Pharmacodynamics

Question 35

What are the 6 right of medication administration?

Answer 35

1) Right drug
2) Right dose
3) Right route & form
4) Right time
5) Right patient
6) Right documentation