Key Terms- PHARM Flashcards
process by which drugs are transferred from the site of entry into the body to the bloodstream
Absorption
undesirable effects other than the intended therapeutic effect of a drug
Adverse drug reactions
immune system response that occurs when the body interprets an administered drug as a foreign substance and forms antibodies against the drug
Allergic effect
glass flask containing a single dose of medication for parenteral administration
Ampule
severe reaction occurring immediately after exposure to a drug; characterized by respiratory distress and vascular collapse
Anaphylactic reaction/Anaphylaxis
The portion of a drug that reaches the systemic circulation and can act on the cells is called the drug’s ____________.
Bioavailability
movement of drugs by the circulatory system to the site of action
Distribution
tendency of the body to become accustomed to a drug over time; larger doses are required to produce the desired effects
Drug tolerance
study of the effect of ethnicity on responses to prescribed medication, especially drug absorption, metabolism, distribution, and excretion
Ethnopharmacology
removal of a drug from the body
Excretion
name assigned by the manufacturer who first develops a drug; it is often derived from the chemical name
Generic name
the amount of time it takes for half a dose of a drug to be eliminated from the body
Half-life
unusual, unexpected response to a drug that may manifest itself by overresponse, underresponse, or response different from the expected outcome
Idiosyncratic effect
(1) act of breathing in; synonym for inspiration; (2) administration of a drug in solution via the respiratory tract
Inhalation
injection placed just below the epidermis
Intradermal injection
an injection into deep muscle tissue, usually of the buttock, thigh, or upper arm
Intramuscular (IM) injection
injection of a solution into the vein
Intravenous (IV) route
process of creating an accurate list of all medications a patient is taking, including drug name, dosage, frequency, and route, and comparing the list to the physician’s admission, transfer, or discharge orders, with the goal of providing correct medications to the patient at all transition points within the hospital
Medication reconciliation
(1) chemical changes in the body by which energy is provided; (2) breakdown of a drug to an inactive form; also referred to as biotransformation
Metabolism
popularly used to refer to injection routes
Parenteral
highest plasma concentration of a drug
Peak level
process by which drugs alter cell physiology and affect the body
Pharmacodynamics
the study of how genetic variation affects an individual’s response to drugs
Pharmacogenetics
use of information about a person’s genetic makeup, or genome, to choose the drugs and drug doses that are likely to work best for that person
Pharmacogenomics
movement of drug molecules in the body in relation to the drug’s absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion
Pharmacokinetics
study of actions of chemicals on living organisms
Pharmacology
dynamic that achieves the desired therapeutic effect of the drug without causing other undesirable effects
Pharmacotherapeutics
intermittent IV administration of medications through a primary IV line, with the additive container positioned higher than the primary IV solution
Piggyback infusion
Latin word meaning, “I shall please”; an inactive substance that gives satisfaction to the person using it
Placebo
“as needed” order for medication
PRN order
single order carried out immediately
Stat order
injection into the subcutaneous tissue that lies between the epidermis and the muscle
Subcutaneous injection
combined effect of two or more drugs is greater than the effect of each drug alone
Synergistic effect
known to have potential to cause develop- mental defects in the embryo or fetus
Teratogenic
that concentration of drug in the blood serum that produces the desired effect without causing toxicity
Therapeutic range
application of a substance directly to a body surface
Topical application
specific groups of symptoms related to drug therapy that carry risk for permanent damage or death
Toxic effects (toxicities)
drug name selected and trademarked by the company marketing the drug; also called brand name or proprietary name
Trade name
the point when a drug is at its lowest concentration
Trough level
glass bottle with self-sealing stopper through which medication is removed; may be single or multiple dose
Vial
technique used to administer medications intra- muscularly that ensures that the medication does not leak back along the needle track and into the subcutaneous tis-sue, reducing pain and discomfort
Z-track technique
process that occurs from the time a drug enters the body to the time it enters the bloodstream to be circulated
Absorption
drug that produces effects similar to those produced by naturally occurring hormones, neurotransmitters, and other substances
Agonist
drug that inhibits cell function by occupying receptor sites
Antagonist
substance that relieves, prevents, or counteracts the effect of a poison
Antidote
process that may involve manipulating deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA] and ribonucleic acid (RNA] and recombining genes into hybrid molecules that can be inserted into living organisms (often Escherichia coli bacteria) and repeatedly reproduced
Biotechnology
manufacturer’s chosen name for a drug, which is protected by a patent
Brand (trade) name
drugs that are categorized by federal law according to therapeutic usefulness and potential for abuse; also known as scheduled drugs
Controlled substances
groups of medications that are classified according to their effects on particular body systems, their therapeutic uses, and their chemical characteristics
Drug classifications
chemical or official name of the drug that is independent of the manufacturer and often indicates the drug group
Generic name
medications available for purchase without a prescription
Over-the-counter (OTC) drugs
costs of drug therapy, including costs of purchasing, dispensing, storage, administration, and laboratory and other tests used to monitor patient responses; also considers losses due to expiration
Pharmacoeconomics
study of how a person’s genetic heritage leads to variable responses to drugs; more generally refers to genetic polymorphisms that occur in a patient population, such as an ethnic group, as opposed to an individual person
Pharmacogenomics (also known as pharmacogenetics)
use of drugs to prevent, diagnose, or treat signs, symptoms, and disease processes
Pharmacotherapy
inert substance containing no medication and given to reinforce a person’s expectation to improve
Placebo
medications that are ordered in writing by a licensed health care provider
Prescription drugs
often the first drug of a particular drug class to be developed; usually the standard against which newer, similar drugs are compared
Prototype
collection of patient data that affects drug therapy
Assessment
oral tablet or capsule formulations that maintain consistent serum drug levels
Controlled-release
form in which drugs are manufactured; includes elixirs, tablets, capsules, suppositories, parenteral drugs, and transdermal systems
Dosage form
coating of a tablet or capsule that makes it insoluble in stomach acid
Enteric-coated
determining a patient’s status in relation to stated goals and expected outcomes
Evaluation
scientific evidence that yields the best practice in patient care
Evidence-based practice
planned nursing activities performed on a patient’s behalf, including assessment, promotion of adherence to drug therapy, and solving problems related to drug therapy
Interventions
list of prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, herbal supplements, or illegal substances taken by the patient (both current and past)
Medication history
description of patient problems based on assessment data
Nursing diagnosis
systematic way of gathering and using information to plan and provide individualized patient care
Nursing process
injected administration; subcutaneous, intramuscular, or intravenous route
Parenteral
expected outcomes of prescribed drug therapy
Planning/goals
assist to ensure accuracy in drug therapy; rights include right drug, right dose, right patient, right assessment, right route, right time, right reason, right documentation, right patient education, right evaluation, and right to refuse the medication
Rights of medication administration
application of drugs (e.g., solutions, ointments, creams, or suppositories) to skin or mucous membranes
Topical
adsorption of drugs (e.g., skin patches] through the skin
Transdermal
