Pharm Flashcards
We alter the function of the body to
prevent, diagnose, and treat
drugs can be given for two different effects
local or systemic
An example of local is
putting a topical steroid on eczema
An example of systemic is
oral medication taken for a headache, that goes through the whole body, may have side effects not related to the headache
NCLEX you will see
Generic names of medications used
A prototype drug is
individual drugs that represent groups of drugs, they are often the first drug of a particular group to be developed. Example: Morphine represents opioid analgesics
Common medication errors include:
wrong medication or IV fluid, incorrect does or IV rate, wrong client, route, or time, administration of known allergic medication, omission of a dose, incorrect discontinuation of medication or IV fluid
Nurses responsibilities Regarding Drug therapy include:
know how to safely administer medication, know correct route of administration, know how to use effective communication between nurses and providers, know what to monitor/assess before and after drug administration, know how to educate patients about drug therapy, and advocate for them
In administration of drugs it is important to use
Application of the Nursing Process: Assessment, Diagnosis, Planning, Implementation, Evaluation
Medication Safety(10)
Right Patient, Right Drug, Right Dose, Right Route, Right Time, Right Documentation, Right Assessment Diagnose, Right Evaluation, Right Education, Right to Refuse
Black box Warning is:
Strictest Warning by the FDA
Reasonable evidence of a serious or life threatening hazard associated with the drug
Example of Black labeled drugs include:
Antidepressants: cause suicidal thoughts
Deep Provera:(injectable birth control) causes bone loss)
Fluoriquinolones (antibiotics like Cipro) cause tendon rupture
FDA Pharmaceutical Pregnancy Categories include:
Categories A, B, C, D, and X. A is the least harmful, and X is the worst.
Category A:
Adequate and well controlled human studies demonstrated no risk.
Category B:
Animal studies demonstrate a risk, but no human studies have been performed, or animal studies demonstrate a risk, but human studies have demonstrated no risk,
Category C:
Animal studies demonstrate a risk but no human studies have been performed. Potential benefits may outweigh the risks.
Category D:
Human studies demonstrate a risk, potential benefits may outweigh the risks.
Category X:
Animal or human studies demonstrate a risk. The risks outweigh the potential benefits.
Oral Routes from slowest to fastest:
Rectal, Pills(tablets, capsules), Liquid, Subcutaneous, Intramuscular, Intravenous
Metabolism is
the method by which drugs are inactivated or biotransformed by the body. (need enzymes to activate drugs) The LIVER is the main site of drug metabolism(Enzyme P450)
First-Pass Loss Effect is when
a drug given via enteral route(by mouth) and has to be metabolized by liver before reaching blood, losing some to entire drug effect.
How Receptors work:
In order for drugs to work,cells have recemptorsthat drug must fit into to work. Agonists fit into the cell to make the drug work, and Antagonists block cells to prevent an action.
Non- receptor drugs
do not bind to a receptor to work: for example: antacids that coat the stomach
Factors that affect Pharmacodynamics include-
genetics, gender, race,( P450 Liver Enzyme, muscle mass vs. ft stores), Age/weight, (Pediatric, Geriatric, kg),Disease Processes, (Pre-existing, Psychological)
There are many lifespan considerations when it comes to Geriatric Patients:
- Factors decrease absorption rate
- they have less gastric acid(increased PH or Alkaline)
- Slower GI motility, and slowed gastric emptying
- reduced blood flow to GI,CV, liver, and kidneys
- Reduced absorptive surface area, factors reduce distribution
- Less body water, increased body fat, decreased lean body mass
- more body fat to store(“trap”) lipid soluble drugs
- Less protein binding sites(more free drugs in the blood)
- reduced blood flow to Cardiovascular system
- smaller distributive volume which leads to increased concentration of the drug
Older adult pharmacology(factors that reduce metabolism):
-Reduced organ functions of liver, kidneys, cardiopulmonary, leading to longer half life
-decreased liver enzyme production/function
-poor circulation, less therapeutic effects
-Increased responses to enteral drugs due to reduced first-pass effects
-reduced blood flow to liver
factors that reduce elimination
-Renal insufficiency failure
-Bowel Obstruction
-Loss of Nephrons
Reduced blood flow to kidneys
Factors specific to Pediatric Life Span Considerations:
Immature system/Organ functions(liver, kidney, blood-brain barrier, bone and teeth growth)
- decreased gastric acid production and slower gastric emptying time
- decreased first pass medication metabolism
- Increased absorption of topical medications (greater BSA and thinner skin)
- Lower Blood Pressure(more blood flow to the liver and brain and less blood flow to the kidneys.
- Higher body water content (dilutes water soluble medications)Decreased serum-protein-binding sites(until age 1) leads to higher blood protein-binding drug level
Pediatric pharmacology factors:
-show greater individual variation, higher risk for medication errors.
-Dosages are usually based on weight or body surface area
-2/3 of drugs used in pediatrics have been tested on children
-Adult medication must be prepared in very small dose unit
-limited sites exist for IV medication administration
Nursing implications: Dosing per body weight/increased risk for adverse drug reaction
Nursing interventions for older adults:
- obtain a complete medication history
- starts the new drug therapy at the lowest possible dose
- assess/monitor
- Promote adherence by:
- providing tailored education
- choosing appropriate drug form and dosing schedule
- providing user friendly pill containers
- developing daily calendar
- Identify support system(friend,neighbor, relative)
Factors that reduce ability to manage medication:(in patients 65 and older):
-impaired memory or altered mental state
-vision and hearing impairment
-impaired mobility and fine motor skills
-poor adherence and low health literacy level
- reduced financial resources
-Poly-Pharmacy(taking several prescription medications and OTC meds together which can decrease organ system functions and certain medical conditions, can lead to potential toxicity
-multiple and severe illnesses
-Nonspecific symptoms of adverse Drug reactions
-Multiple providers, but inadequate supervision of long-term therapy
use many drugs with low Tl like digoxin
Definition of Distribution:
Drugs are carried by blood and tissue fluids to:
Action sites
Metabolism sites
Excretion sites
*depends on adequacy of blood circulation
Pharmacodynamics definition:
What drug does to body
how drugs are working
Definition of Excretion:
Elimination of a medication from the body this requires adequate function of the: -circulatory system -kidneys,bowel -lungs, -skin
Pharmacokinetics:
What the body does to the drug. ADME
absorption, distribution, Metabolism, Elimination
Absorption:
Onset of drug action is determined by the rate of absorption.
*Factors that affect rate and extent of drug absorption
_Dosage form, route and administration, administration site, blood flow, GI function, the presence of food and other drugs
BEERS criteria:
list of potentially inappropriate medications used by the older adult-30% of hospital admissions are linked to drug reactions
Example of a category X medication is:
Accutane (Isotretinoin)
Access to drugs:
prescription: written by a licensed health care provider such as a physician, dentist, or nurse practitioner.
OTC or over the counter meds do not require a prescription
-Regulated by various laws
Drug Schedule 1-5 Refers to level of potential for abuse:
Schedule 1 drugs have the highest potential for abuse, and schedule 5 drugs have low potential for abuse
In drug development the patient is the main focus:
our goal is to help the patient overcome illness/disease and to improve quality of life.
The generic drug name is assigned in the United States, the name indicates the:
drug group and is often hard to pronounce.
Amoxicillin belongs to the penicillin group
the brand name or trade name is developed by the company requesting approval for the drug and identifies it as the exclusive property of that company. :
Brand name is come up with by people trying to market the drug and make name more memorable like flomax (prostate med)
An ideal drug is effective, safe, and
selective
*Goal of drug therapy is Maximum benefit with minimum harm
therapeutic Index:
ratio between the dosage of a drug that causes a lethal effect and the dosage that causes a therapeutic effect.
Half Life:
This is the period of time required for the concentration or amount of drug in the body to be reduced by one-half.
Activity means:
How well the drug candidate binds to its target and generates the desired biological response
metabolic Profile toxicity:
whether or not any toxic effects are produced by the drug candidate or its byproducts when the body’s enzymes break it down
Half -life:
How long the drug stays in its active form in the body
Oral-Bioavailability:
How much drug candidate reaches the appropriate tissues in its active form when given orally
Solubility:
Affects how well the drug candidates can be absorbed by the body if taken orally
the most important properties of an ideal drug are:
effectiveness, safety, and selectivity
If a drug is not effective:
it should not be used
Drugs have both:
benefits and risks
There is no such thing as a wholly selective drug:
All drugs can cause side effects
The objective of drug therapy is to:
provide maximum benefit with minimum harm.
Because all patients are unique, drug therapy:
must be tailored to each individual
Nursing responsibilities with regard to drugs extends far beyond the
Rights of Drug Administration
You are the patients last:
line of defense against medication errors
Your knowledge of pharmacology has a wide variety of practical applications in
patient care and patient education
application of the nursing process in drug therapy us directed at:
individualizing treatment which is critical to achieving therapeutic objective.
The goal of pre administration assessment is to gather data needed for:
1) evaluation of therapeutic and adverse effects. 2) identification if high-risk patients, and 3) assessment of the patients capacity for self-care
The analysis and diagnosis phase of treatment is directed at:
1). judging the appropriateness of the prescribed therapy 2)identifying potential health problems treatment might cause and 3) characterizing the patient’s capacity for self-care
Pre administration assessment:
therapeutic goal, baseline data, identifying high risk patients
implementation:Administration
Routes, Administration
Implementations: Measures to enhance therapeutic Effects:
Ongoing Evaluations and Interventions: Summary of monitoring Evaluating Therapeutic effects minimizing adverse effects minimizing adverse interactions managing toxicity
Amphetamine adverse effect:
CNS stimulation, Nursing Diagnosis: Disturbed sleeping pattern related to drug-induced CNS excitation
Aspirin adverse effect:
Gastric Erosion: Related Nursing Diagnosis: Pain related to aspirin induced gastric erosion
Atropine: adverse effect:
urinary retention: Urinary retention related to drug therapy
Bethanachol: adverse effect
stimulation of GI smooth muscle: Bowel incontinence related to drug induced increase in bowel motility
Cyclophosphamide: adverse effect:
Reduction of white blood cell counts: Risk for infection related to drug induced neutropenia
Digoxin: adverse effect:
dysrhythmias: inaffective tissue perfusion related to drug-induced cardiac dysrhythmias