Medications Flashcards
Curative
Cures a disease or condition
Example penicillin for infection
Supportive
Supports body function until other treatments or the body’s response can take over.
Example blood pressure meds, aspirin for fever
Substitutive
Replaces body fluids or substances
Examples. Thyroxine for hypothyroidism and insulin for diabetes.
Chemotherapeutic
Destroys malignant cells
Example busily an for leukemia
Restorative
Returns the body to health
Example vitamin and mineral supplements
Palliative
Relieves the symptoms of a disease but does not affect the disease itself
Example morphine sulfate and aspirin
Drug tolerance
Exists in a person Who exhibits an unusually low physiological response to a drug who requires increase in the dosage to maintain a given therapeutic effect
Cumulative effect
The increasing response to repeated doses of a drug that occurs when the rate of administration exceeds the rate of metabolism or excretion
Idiosyncratic affect
One that is unexpected and maybe individual to a client. It has the opposite effect
Potentiating effect
The effect of one or both drugs may be increased. Increase action of each other the same class
Inhibiting effect
The fact of one or both drugs may decrease. Giving drug B to stop effects of drug A
Synergistic effect
Occurs when two different drugs increase the action of one or another drug. different classes work together
Iatrogenic disease
Disease caused unintentionally by medical therapy can be a result of drug therapy
Drug habituation
Denotes a mild form of psychological dependence
Onset of action
The time after administration when the body initially respond to the drug
Drug half-life
The time required for the elimination process to reduce the concentration of the drug to one half what it was at initial administration
Pharmacodynamics
The mechanism of drug action and the relationships between drug concentration and responses in the body
Receptor
The drugs specific target usually a protein located on the surface of a cell membrane or within the cell
Agonist
When a drug produces the same type of response as the physiological or endogenous substance. Stimulates, makes action happen
Physiological dependence
Due to biochemical changes in body tissues, especially the nervous system
Antagonist
A drug that inhibits cell function by occupying receptor sites. Blocks or stops the response.
Effectiveness and potency
How it is acting at a cellular level
Absorption
The process by which a drug passes into the blood stream. The rate of absorption of a drug in the stomach is variable
Biotransformation
Also detoxification or metabolism
Is a process by which a drug is converted to a less active form
Most of the time it takes place in the liver
Metabolites
The products of biotransformation
Active and inactive
Excretion
The process by which metabolites and drugs are eliminated by the body.
It is eliminated by the kidneys, some feces, the breath, perspiration, saliva and breast milk
Pharmacogenetics
A branch of pharmacology that examines the role of genetics in response to drugs
Ethnopharmacology
The study of the effect of racial and ethnic differences/responses to prescribed medication
Time of administration
The time of administration of oral meds affects the relative speed with which they act.
Some are Absorbed more quickly on an empty stomach while others are absorbed more rapidly with food
Parental
By needle
Single order
A one time order for medication to be given once at a specified time
Standing order
May be carried out indefinitely until an order is written to cancel or to be carried out for a specified number of days
Parts of a drug order
7
Full name of client Date and time the order is written Name of the drug to be administered Dosage of drug Frequency of administration Route of administration Signature of the person writing order
Parts of a prescription
9
Client info name address and sometimes age
Date on which the prescription was written
Medication name dosage and strength
Route of administration
Dispensing instructions for pharmacist
Directions for administration for a client
Refill labeling
Prescribers signature
The RX symbol
Medication reconciliation
The process of creating the most accurate list possible if all medications a patient is taking and comparing it against the physicians admission, transfer, and/or discharge orders
Five rights of med administration
Right patient Right drug Right time Right dose Right route
Psychological changes associated with aging the influence of medication administration and effectiveness
Altered memory
Decreased visual acuity
Decrease in renal functioning
Less complete and slower absorption from the GI tract
Increased proportion of fat to lean body mass
Which facilitates retention of fat soluble drugs and increases the potential for toxicity
Administering medications by nasogastric or gastrostomy tube
Check with the pharmacist to see if the med comes in a liquid form
Crush a tab if possible and combine it with 30 ml warm sterile water ( at least 10 ml depending on how many pills)
Do not give whole or undissolved pills it can clog tube
Access tube placement prior to giving meds
Aspirate stomach content
Remove plunged from syringe and connect to a pinched or kinked tube
Put 15-30ml sterile water to flush
Pour meds into syringe barrel and let flow by gravity
Flush with tap water in between meds
When done flush with 15-30ml warm water
Disconnect suction and keep tube clamped for 20-30 minutes after giving meds
SC injections
0.5 -1 ml 1-2ml syringe or units for insulin Generally #25 gauge 5/8 inch 45 degrees when 1 in can be pinched And 90 degrees when 2 in can be pinched
Injection sites need to be rotated to
Minimize tissue damage, aid in absorption, and avoid discomfort
IM injections
Are absorbed more quickly than subcutaneous injections because of the greater blood supply to the body muscles. Can use up to 3 mL of meds Deltoid-0.5-1ml 3-5 ml syringe 1 1/2 in and #21 or #22 gauge needle
Factors that indicate the size and length of needles abused
The muscle
The type of solution
The amount of adipose tissue covering the muscle
The age of the client
Ventral gluteal site
The preferred site for intramuscular injections
Because it contains no large nerves or blood vessels
and is sealed off by bone
Provides the greatest thickness of gluteal muscle and it’s free of penetrating nerves
Vastus Lateralis site
Is usually sick and well-developed and both adults and children it is recommended as a site of choice for IM injections for infants and young children because it is the largest muscle
Rectus femoris site
Clients to administer their own injections can reach this site easily
Deltoid site
Recommended site for hepatitis B vaccine flu and TDP
Not often used for I am injections because it is very close to the radial nerve and radial artery
Z track
Less painful technique and it decreases leakage of irritating medications into the subcutaneous tissue
Good for a thick medication
Traps medicine and muscle layer
Good for iron testosterone depro vera
Intravenous medications
Are appropriate when a rapid effect is required or when medications are too irritating to tissue
Used and a large volume infusion. of intravenous fluid and intermittent intravenous infusion (piggyback or tandem)
Large volume infusions
Mixing a medication into a large IV container is the safest and easiest way to administer a drug intravenously
Fluid such as IV normal saline or ringers lactate are frequently used
The main danger of infusing a large volume of fluid is circulatory overload or Hypervolemia
Hypervolemia
Circulatory overload with a large volume of fluid
Tandem
Ran concurrent
Piggyback
Secondary bag
Used for intermittent or simultaneous med administration with primary solution
Hang small bag higher
Intravenous push (IVP) or bolus
It is used when a medication cannot be diluted or in an emergency
Disadvantages to IVP
An error and administration cannot be corrected after the drug has entered the client
The drug may be irritating to the blood vessels
Never administer a med IVP in a line that is infusing blood or blood products
SASH flushing procedure
Saline -administer drug-saline- heparin
Percutaneous
The route of absorption through the skin
Nasal medication
Usually used for their astringent effect to shrink swollen mucous membranes
Administering nasal spray
Client blow their nose
Seated position with head tilted back
Tip of the container just inside the nares
Inhale gently as the spray enters the nasal passage
Rectal medications
Insertion of medications into the rectum in the form of suppositories is a frequent practice rectal administration is it convenient and safe method of giving medications
Advantages of a rectal medications
Avoids irritation of the upper GI
Better when med has objectionable taste or odor
Drug is released slowly and steady
Rectal suppositories are thought to provide higher bloodstream levels of medication
Inserting a rectal suppository
Assist client to left lateral or left Sam’s position with upper leg flexed
Lubricate the small round and lubricate the glove index finger
Encourage the client to relax my breathing through the
Insert the suppository gently and the anal canal along the rectal wall
Avoid embedding the suppository in feces
Plus the clients Buttocks together for a few minutes
Asked the client to remain in the position for at least five minutes
Using a metered dose inhaler
Remove the mouthpiece cap
Shake vigorously for 3 to 5 seconds
Exhale comfortably as in a normal breath
Press down once on the MDI canister and inhale slowly for 3 to 5 seconds and deeply through the mouth
Hold your breath for 10 seconds or as long as possible
Rinse mouth with tap water to remove any medication
Clean the mouthpiece after each use
Never give IVP meds with
Blood infusing
Total parental nutrition (TPN)
Vasoactive drugs infusion
IV bags are good for
24 hours
IV tubing and sites are good for
72 hours and then change
Outside line starts are only good for
24 hours
Extravasation
Leaking, pain, coolness, or swelling.
The IV is no longer in the vein or leaking
With drugs. Sloughing off of skin
Phlebitis
Vein inflammation-Monitor for erythema, hardness, swelling, pain.
IV take out and warm compress
Pharmacokinetics
How medicine travels through the body- absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion.
