Intro To Pharmacology Flashcards
Medications in the same category usually have many of the same-
Adverse drug reactions, contraindications / precautions, and administration considerations
What is the difference between Generic and Brand name medications?
Generic medications are usually less expensive than brand name meds
Generic meds have the same chemical composition + effects as brand name meds
Generic meds may have several brand names
Can a brand name medication have several generic names?
No
What can you expect from any and all prescription medications?
They are potentially harmful if there is no supervision of administration by a licensed health provider
Who can supervise the administration of a prescription drug?
A physician, nurse practitioner, or physician’s assistant
Medications to treat infections are an example of generic or prescription meds?
Prescription
Diuretic medications are an example of generic or prescription meds?
Prescription meds
Anti-hypertensives are an example of generic or prescription meds?
Prescription
What are Analgesics?
Pain meds
Analgesics are non-prescription meds, except for the-
Narcotic Analgesics
Diuretics promote -
Urination
What are the brand names for Acetaminophen?
Tylenol
Ibuprofen
Advil
Diphenhydramine
Benadryl
Loratadine
Claritin
Cimetidine
Tagamet
Meds that a client takes through the mouth but inhales into the lungs, are usually in what form?
Powder Form
Enteric-Coated meds are sometimes abbreviated as-
EC meds
When are Enteric Coated meds dissolved by the body?
Whenever they reach the intestines
Extended Release meds are sometimes abbreviated as-
ER meds
Extended Length meds, Sustained Release meds, and Sustained Action meds are all other terms for-
Extended Release meds
Extended Length meds are sometimes abbreviated as-
XL meds
Sustained Release meds are sometimes abbreviated as-
SR or XR meds
Sustained Action meds are sometimes abbreviated as-
SA meds
What do ODT meds do?
ODT (Oral Disintegrating Tablets) dissolve in your mouth
How can you tell if a tablet can be split?
If it’s scored or marked with a line in the center, it can be split
Extended Release / Sustained Release meds should never be taken in what way?
Crushed
What are the ways that you can administer a Parenteral med?
Intravenously, Subcutaneously, Intramuscularly
The absorption of IV meds is-
Immediate and Complete
The onset of action for IV meds is-
Immediate
The absorption of subcutaneous and intramuscular medications is-
Variable
What can affect the absorption of SUBQ and IM meds?
The water-solubility of the drug + Whether or not the pt has good circulatory blood flow and tissue perfusion
The absorption of a poorly water-soluble med that’s given via SUBQ or IM will be rapid or slow?
Slow
Parenteral meds typically come in either a liquid form or a dry form that needs liquid added. This is called -
Reconstitution
Topical / Transdermal meds are meds that you apply to a pt’s -
Skin, eyes, ears, nose, rectum, vagina, or lungs
Topical meds deliver a constant amount of the medication over an extended period of time, have a -
Slower onset of action + have a longer duration of action than PO or INJ meds
What is Absorption?
The movement of a drug from the side of administration to other places in the body
In what order do oral meds need to absorb through in the body before reaching circulation?
The Intestinal Wall, then they enter the Portal Vein (Portal System) then the liver before reaching circulation
What is the First Pass Effect?
Whenever the drug reaches the liver, some of it deactivates as it passes through it
The amount of the drug available in the circulation after the first-pass effect =
Bio-Availability
Are INJ meds affected by the First Pass Effect?
No, they bypass it by going straight into circulation
What is Distribution?
The movement of a drug by the circulatory system to the intended site of action
What’s the difference between Absorption and Distribution?
With Absorption, the drug is moving from the site of administration to other tissues.
With Distribution, the drug is moving via the circulatory system to an intended site of action.
How do meds in general get to the circulatory system?
Via absorbing through the Intestinal Wall and making it to the liver (PO Route)
Via the alveoli in the lungs (Nebulizer Route)
Via INJ
What areas of the body should receive the highest doses of a drug?
Areas of the body with the richest blood supply (Liver, Heart, Kidneys)
Why would the Brain not receive a very high level of a drug compared to certain other areas of the body?
Areas with a barrier are less exposed to a drug.
The brain has the Blood Brain Barrier, so it won’t be exposed to the drug as much as other areas.
Do bones receive a very high level of exposure to drugs compared to certain other areas of the body?
No
What is Metabolism in regards to drugs?
The change that occurs in a med into a more / less potent form of the med, more soluble form of the med, or an inactive form of the med
If a med becomes more soluble, more or less potent, or becomes inactive after entering the body, what is this an example of?
Metabolism
What organ is the most responsible for the metabolism of drugs in the body?
The Liver
When does Biotransformation occur?
Whenever the structure of a med changes because of metabolism
What is the new or altered form of a med called after Biotransformation occurs?
Metabolite
What can assist in the Excretion of a med or its Metabolites?
The Kidneys, Lungs, GI Tract, or Skin
Whenever a drug is being excreted via the kidneys, what can occur?
The kidneys may reabsorb some of the drug, allowing some of the med to go through the body again
The time it takes for a medication that enters the body to decrease in amount by half =
Half Life Value
The amount of time it takes for the medication to demonstrate a therapeutic response =
Onset of Action
The length of time the medication’s therapeutic effect lasts without additional doses =
Duration of Action
The point in time when the medication is at its highest level in the body =
The Peak Level
The point in time when the medication is at its lowest level in the body =
The Trough Level
How can you determine peak and trough levels?
Via taking a pt’s blood samples throughout the day
How the drug effects the body =
Pharmacodynamics
How the body effects the drug =
Pharmacokinetics
The effects of medications occur secondary to -
Changes in how cells function, changes in the cellular environment, or changes in the action of enzymes in the body
What do changes in cellular function cause?
A greater or lesser response than what typically occurs
What are Agonists?
Meds that bind with a receptor and cause a greater-than-typical response
What are Antagonists?
Meds that bind with a receptor and either block a response OR cause a less-than-typical response
Antagonists exert their effect in what manner?
Either a Competitive or Non-Competitive manner
What are Antagonists called that compete for receptive sites with Agonists?
Competitive Antagonists
What are Non-Competitive Antagonists?
Antagonists that block an Agonist’s access to receptor sites
When you give in high enough doses, noncompetitive antagonists can-
Completely block the typical response caused by an agonist
Competitive antagonists that you give in increasingly high doses will-
Decrease the typical response by an agonist but will rarely completely block it
You note that a primary care provider prescribed morphine sulfate, an opioid agonist, to relieve a client’s postoperative pain.
Which of the following actions describes the action of an agonist on a receptor?
A: Destroys the receptor
B: Competes with the receptor
C: Activates the receptor
D: Blocks the receptor
C
