Pharmacokinetics and the Nursing Process

Question 1

Pharmacokinetics

Answer 1

• determining how much of administered dose gets to its site of action
• four major pharmacokinetic processes include drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion

Question 2

Pharmacodynamics

Answer 2

• the impact a drug has on the body

- looks at drug receptor interaction, the patient’s functional state, and placebo effects

Question 3

Pharmaceutical properties of drugs

Answer 3

the medicinal properties of a drug; how it can benefit the individual it is effecting by minimizing the harm done

Question 4

Pharmacokinetics: Absorption

Answer 4

• the movement of a drug from its site of administration into the blood
• amt of absorption helps to determine how intense effects will be

Question 5

Pharmacokinetics: Distribution

Answer 5

• defined as the transport of a drug in the body fluids from the bloodstream to the various tissues of the body & ultimately the site of action

Question 6

Pharmacokinetics: Metabolism

Answer 6

• also known as biotransformation
• defined as the enzymatic alteration of drug structute
• the process of chemically inactivating a drug by converting it into a more water-soluble compound or metabolite that can be excreted from the body
• occurs in the liver

Question 7

Pharmacokinetics: Excretion

Answer 7

• the process by which drugs & metabolites are eliminated from the body, primarily through the kidneys

Question 8

Blood Brain Barrier

Answer 8

• only drugs that are lipid soluble or have a transport system have the ability to cross over the blood brain barrier to a significant degree and effect the CNS

Question 9

Placental Drug Transfer

Answer 9

• membranes of the placenta do not constitute an absolute barrier to the passage of drugs
• movement across occurs from circulation, active transport, and even by passing directly through if they are lipid soluble

Question 10

The Stages of Drug Research

Answer 10

• preclinical testing

- clinical testing which includes 4 phases

Question 11

Phase I clinical testing of drugs

Answer 11

• initial pharmacologic evaluation

- small group of normal humans is tested to observe pharmacokinetics

Question 12

Phase II clinical testing of drugs

Answer 12

• limited controlled evaluation

- selected group of humans with targeted disease is tested. Subjects are monitored for effectiveness & side effects

Question 13

Phase III clinical testing of drugs

Answer 13

• extended clinical evaluation
• humans with targeted disease are tested to determine clinical effectiveness, drug safety, estimated dosage range or tolerated dosage

Question 14

Phase IV clinical testing of drugs

Answer 14

• drug has been approved by the FDA and is now cleared to be prescribed so that it can be observed in a larger manor

Question 15

Properties of a nursing assessment

Answer 15

• this is the collection of baseline data in order to evaluate the therapeutic and adverse effects on a person, as well as the identification of high risk patients and the patient’s capacity for self care
• the nurse must ask about drug history, surgery history, family history, etc. in order to assess how to treat the patient properly

Question 16

Category A pregnancy drugs

Answer 16

• Adequate and well-controlled studies have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus in the first trimester of pregnancy (and there is no evidence of risk in later trimesters)

Question 17

Category B pregnancy drugs

Answer 17

• Animal reproduction studies have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women.

Question 18

Category C pregnancy drugs

Answer 18

• Animal reproduction studies have shown an adverse effect on the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in humans, but potential benefits may warrant use of the drug in pregnant women despite potential risks.

Question 19

Category D pregnancy drugs

Answer 19

• There is positive evidence of human fetal risk based on adverse reaction data from investigational or marketing experience or studies in humans, but potential benefits may warrant use of the drug in pregnant women despite potential risks.

Question 20

Category X pregnancy drugs

Answer 20

• Studies in animals or humans have demonstrated fetal abnormalities and/or there is positive evidence of human fetal risk based on adverse reaction data from investigational or marketing experience, and the risks involved in use of the drug in pregnant women clearly outweigh potential benefits.

Question 21

Pure food and drug act (1906)

Answer 21

• passed to protect the public from adulterated or mislabeled drugs

Question 22

Food drug and cosmetic act (1938)

Answer 22

• mandated that drug manufacturers must test all drugs for harmful effects
• mandated drug labels must be accurate and complete

Question 23

Kefauver - harris amendment (1962)

Answer 23

• resulted from drug companies making huge profits and sometimes using false or misleading promotions (thalidomide)

Question 24

Controlled substances act (1970)

Answer 24

• categorized controlled substances on the basis of their relative potential for abuse

Question 25

Drug regulation act (1978)

Answer 25

• shortened the drug investigation process to release drugs sooner to the public

Question 26

Characteristics of Scheduled drugs

Answer 26

• these are drugs that are to be taken at specific times
• these drugs do not pass through your system for a certain span of time and are used to keep a constant effect on the body, like birth control. Because of this, these drugs are taken on schedules to keep up the effect of the drug.

Question 27

First Pass Effect

Answer 27

• is a phenomenon of drug metabolism whereby the concentration of a drug is greatly reduced before it reaches the systemic circulation
• drugs with first pass effects must be administered in much higher doses

Question 28

difference between side effects, adverse effects, allergic effects and ethnic differences of drugs

Answer 28

• a side effect is when a drug interacts with something in your body causing a reaction
• an allergic effect is when a drug reacts with your immune system
• an adverse effect is an unwanted or unpleasant effect caused by a drug
• ethnic differences are differences in drug metabolism in different ethnicities