Introduction and basics Flashcards
What is a drug?
any chemical that can affect living processes.
What is clinical pharmacology?
the study of drugs in humans
What is therapeutics?
the use of drugs to diagnose, prevent, or treat diseases
What are the 5 properties of the “perfect drug”?
1) effective
2) safe (minimal side effects)
3) easy to administer
4) no drug interactions
5) inexpensive
What is the objective of drug therapy?
to provide maximum benefit with minimum harm.
Explain the 5 levels of drug development.
phase 0
- animal trials, in vitro screening
- narrow down to 5-20 compounds
phase 1 will it do harm
- assess toxicity, route of administration, dosage
- 50 healthy pts
phase 2 will it work
evaluate effectiveness
determine side effects
-250 pts
phase 3 clinical trials
- validate effectiveness of pt
- 3000 pts
FDA approval, market induction
How long does it take to develop a new drug and get it to market?
15-18 yrs
What is pharmacokinetics?
the study of drug movement throughout the body
What are the 4 aspects of pharmacokinetics?
ABSORPTION: movement of a drug from site of administration into the blood
DISTRIBUTION: drug movement from the blood to the interstitial space and cells
METABOLISM: breakdown of the drug into metabolites
EXCRETION: movement of the drug and metabolites out of the body
What are the 2 primary excretory organs?
liver and kidneys
How might kidney function affect administration frequency of a drug?
if good kidney function you will have the normal frequency of administration
if poor kidney function, the drug will stay in the blood longer and will therefore need to decrease frequency of administration
What are the 7 processes in neurotransmitter action?
1) SYNTHESIS of neurotransmitters from precursors under the influence of enzymes
2) STORAGE of neurotransmitter in vesicles
3) LEAKED neurotransmitters are destroyed by enzymes
4) Action potentials cause vesicles to fuse with presynaptic membrane and RELEASE neurotransmitters with the synapse
5) neurotransmitters bind with autoreceptors on the axon that inhibit subsequent neurotransmitter release
6) neurotransmitters bind to postsynaptic receptors
7) DEACTIVATED by reuptake or enzyme destruction
What is an AGONIST drug?
drugs that occupy receptors and activate them
What is an ANTAGONISTIC drug?
drugs that occupy receptors but do not activate them
What are the 3 possible combinations of agonistic and antagonistic drugs and their outcomes?
Agonist alone: occupy receptor -> full activation
Antagonist alone: occupy receptor -> no activation
Agonist + Antagonist: both try to occupy receptor -> less activation
less activation means that there will be a smaller graded potential from that receptor
What are the nurses responsibilities in pharmacotherapy? (4)
1) participate in safe medication practices
2) ensure you understand the use of the medications and what the possible actions and consequences the drug may have on the pt.
3) seek out help when you are unsure
4) follow the 7 RIGHTS OF DRUG ADMINISTRATION
What are the 7 rights of drug administration?
RIGHT……
1) drug
2) patient
3) dose
4) route
5) time
6) indication
7) documentation
What are the two ways of naming a drug and which is preferred?
generic name (preferred) and brand/trade name
What is the difference between generic drugs and brand name drugs?
brand name drugs are initially patented. Patent eventually expires allowing generic companies to start making that drug.
What is the benefit of generic drugs?
get an equivalent drug at a lower cost
What is regular release?
a way of formulating a drug so that it releases into the body quickly, thus increasing the dosing frequency.
IR = immediate release
What is sustained release?
a way of formulating a medicine so that it is released into the body steadily over a long period of time thus reducing dosing frequency.
things you may see on a label: LA - long acting CR - controlled release SR - sustained release XL - extra long PA - prolonged action CONTIN patches
What are the 12 steps in the medication order process in hospitals?
1) patient needs drug therapy
2) prescriber writes prescription
3) unit clerk processes the order
4) order sent to the hospital pharmacy
5) pharmacist review order for appropriateness
6) pharmacy technicians prepare medication
7) medication sent to the unit
8) NURSE REVIEWS 7 RIGHTS OF ADMINISTRATION
9) pt. receives medication
10) documentation
11) nurses/physician/pharmacist observe effect
12) modification changed as needed
What is an MAR?
a medication administration record
lists all drugs and when they need to be administered
allow the nurse to track when they are administered
