introductory concepts

Question 1

pharmacokinetics

Answer 1

study of what the body does to the drug (metabolism and excretion)

Question 2

pharmodynamics

Answer 2

study of what the drug does to the body (side effects and outcomes)

Question 3

half life

Answer 3

the time required for 50% of the drug to be broken down and excreted

Question 4

metabolism

Answer 4

how the drug is broken in the body to be used (liver)

Question 5

excretion

Answer 5

elimination of med from the body (kidneys)

Question 6

agonist

Answer 6

direct binding to a receptor to carry out the wanted response (lock and key fit)

Question 7

antagonist

Answer 7

binds to a receptor site to prevent other agonists from binding (i.e. naloxone for opiates)

Question 8

onset of action

Answer 8

how fast a drug takes to begin to work

Question 9

peak action

Answer 9

maximum therapeutic effects; when the drug works the best

Question 10

duration of action

Answer 10

total amount of time it takes for a drug to give the therapeutic response without repeating a dose

Question 11

therapeutic effect

Answer 11

intended use of the drug; expected outcome

Question 12

side effect/ADRs

Answer 12

predictable, sometimes undesirable, effects that may or may not occur with administration

Question 13

what tests evaluate liver function?

Answer 13

ALT and AST

Question 14

what tests evaluate kidney function?

Answer 14

BUN, creatinine clearance, GFR

Question 15

peak

Answer 15

highest level of drug in the blood

Question 16

trough

Answer 16

lowest level of drug in the blood

Question 17

important nursing implications to prevent med errors

Answer 17

check 5 rights, med reconciliation, ask about herbals and supplements, assess VS prior to med administration

Question 18

what is the nurse’s highest priority after a med error occurs?

Answer 18

check on the patient!

Question 19

what is a high alert med?

Answer 19

a medication with greater potential of harm ( examples would be insulin, -curonium meds)