Introduction to Pharmacology

Question 1

Pharmacotherapeutics (and the 3 main branches)

Answer 1

The administration of drugs for the purpose of disease prevention or treatment and relief of suffering.

• Drugs/Medications
• Biologics
• Natural health products (NHPs)

Question 2

How are meds classified? Examples.

Answer 2

1. Therapeutic (specifies the clinical treatment of a particular disease)
   - Anticoagulant; the drug for stroke
2. Pharmacological (MOA @ molecular + tissue level)
   - Beta blockers

Question 3

How are meds named?

Answer 3

1. Chemical - full chemical formula-derived name
   - Assigned by IUPAC
2. Generic (non-proprietary) - the main active ingredient of a drug; most useful name
   - Assigned by INN
3. Trade/Brand - created by pharm. companies for marketing purposes
   - Company has exclusive rights for 20 years

Question 4

Prototype drug

Answer 4

A reference drug within a particular class that can serve to predict actions + adverse effects of other drugs in the same class
- Not always the most used drug; usually the "original drug"

Question 5

What are drug schedules?

Answer 5

Distinguishes the dispense + prescription of drugs.
1 - only via prescription, from pharmacist
2 - Only from pharmacist
3 - Open access from pharmacy
4 - Any store w/o professional supervision

• Prescription for some drugs may only be granted by specific HCPs
• Controlled substances are managed by Health Canada’s OCS + DSCSP

Question 6

Nurses and Pharmacological Knowledge

Answer 6

• Are in the first line of med administration

- Need to make important considerations about the patient prior to administration

Question 7

Main regulatory body of drug regulations in Canada

Answer 7

Therapeutic Products Directorate under Health Canada’s Health Products & Food Branch

Question 8

Describe the drug approval process.

Answer 8

1. Pre-clinical investigation
2. Clinical trials
3. Manufacturer submits NDS to Health Canada
4. Drug experts reviews NDS
5. Health Canada shares drug info w/ HCPs + consumers
6. If approved, Health Canada issues DIS + NOC to manufacturer
7. Continual monitoring of efficacy + safety concerns by Health Canada

Question 9

Pharmacology

Answer 9

The study of interactions of chemical substances w/ living systems (how drugs elicit an effect)

Question 10

Factors to drug formulations

Answer 10

• Drug to target tissues
• Clinical settings
• Medical situation
• Drug dynamics

Question 11

ROA: Oral (PO)

Answer 11

Lipid, tablets/pills, powder
*most common

• Enteral (via GI tract)
• Systemic effect

Question 12

ROA: Sublingual (SL)

Answer 12

Capillary absorption into blood stream

• Faster than oral (PO)
• Systemic effect

Question 13

ROA: Intranasal

Answer 13

Capillary absorption

• Excellent for local drug action
• Some % reaches systemic circulation
• Possible for direct CNS effects

Question 14

ROA: inhalation

Answer 14

Absorption in lungs

• Fastest absorption
• Localized or systemic effects

Question 15

ROA: Endotracheal (ET)

Answer 15

For ER/ICU situations

Question 16

ROA: Topical

Answer 16

Creams, ointments, eyedrops

- Highest likelihood of local action

Question 17

ROA: Transdermal

Answer 17

Patch administration

• Systemic effect via capillary bed absorption
• Long term absorption

Question 18

Parental ROA: Intravenous (IV)

Answer 18

• Most common in hospital
• Immediate absorption; 100% bioavailability
• Infection risk

Question 19

Parental ROA: Intramuscular (IM)

Answer 19

Injection into muscle tissue

- Painful

Question 20

Parental ROA: Subcutaneous (SQ)

Answer 20

Subcutaneous tissue injection

- Slow + sustained absorption