Pharmacokinetics for Parenteral Medications

Question 1

What is Absorption?

Answer 1

This is the movement of medications through barriers in the body (mainly membranes).
Example: The movement of drug molecules from the digestive tract into the bloodstream

Question 2

What is Distribution?

Answer 2

Once in the bloodstream, medications travel and reach their target sites of action.
Example: The movement of a drug molecule from blood to the receptors of the heart

Question 3

What is Metabolism?

Answer 3

Drugs are broken down into inactive or active molecules by different organs. This allows the body to excrete the medication.
Example: The anticoagulant warfarin being broken down by cytochrome P450 3A4

Question 4

What is Excretion?

Answer 4

Drugs need to be eliminated from the body, and this occurs through various mechanisms. Example: Medications filtered by the kidney and eliminated through the urine

Question 5

All 4 steps are commonly abbreviated as ____

Answer 5

ADME

Question 6

If a drug is given intravenously, it bypasses the ____ and goes directly to the bloodstream, where it’s distributed throughout the body.

Answer 6

GI system

Question 7

What is a dose?

Answer 7

the amount of the drug received by the patient

Question 8

Other terms that may be used for side effects are adverse ____ (ADR), adverse ____ (ADE), or adverse ____

Answer 8

adverse drug reactions (ADR), adverse drug effects (ADE), or adverse effects

Question 9

Examples like ____ disease (potentially altered metabolism), ____ disease (potentially altered excretion), or ____ disease (potentially altered distribution) could translate to the patient requiring a decreased dose

Answer 9

liver disease (potentially altered metabolism), kidney disease (potentially altered excretion), or cardiovascular disease (potentially altered distribution)

Question 10

What things should be considered for medical dosing?

Answer 10

Age, Weight, Sensitivity to medication, Drug interactions, Route of administration

Question 11

What does potentiate mean?

Answer 11

Increase

Question 12

What does negate mean?

Answer 12

Inhibit

Question 13

____ (NDC) are used to identify products

Answer 13

National Drug Codes

Question 14

The label of every drug package must include the following information:

Answer 14

• Brand (if present) and generic name
• Total volume and concentration (if liquid formulation)
• Dilution instructions (for powder forms)
• One of the following for a prescription medication:
  “Federal Law Prohibits Dispensing Without a Prescription” or “RX ONLY”
• Name and address of the manufacturer
• Precautions associated with the drug
• Possible side effects and adverse effects
• Storage requirements, including refrigeration information (if applicable)

Question 15

Several common IV fluids are administered either alone (____) or as an ____, which includes medication

Answer 15

(hydration) or as an admixture

Question 16

Common IV fluids include the following:

Answer 16

• Sodium chloride injection
• Dextrose injection
• Lactated Ringer’s solution for injection

Question 17

Agents come in varying strengths; for example, dextrose comes in concentrations of 5%, 10%, 25%, and 50%, among other levels. This affects ____.

Answer 17

compounding

Question 18

IV fluids vary in their ____ and ____

Answer 18

pH and tonicity

Question 19

The tonicity of a fluid determines the fluid’s direction when passing between ____ (outside-the-cell) and ____ (inside-the-cell) compartments

Answer 19

extracellular (outside-the-cell) and intracellular (inside-the-cell)

Question 20

The pH of a solution is important because the body’s fluid is slightly ____ (about 7.4)

Answer 20

alkaline

Question 21

Fluids entering the bloodstream that are too ____ or too ____ can cause discomfort, pain, and damage to red blood cells.

Answer 21

too acidic or too alkaline

Question 22

You may see a physical change, such as in color or clarity, or the formation of particles called ____ or ____ when elements aren’t compatible

Answer 22

particulate matter or precipitation

Question 23

When completing the compounding of an IV admixture, carefully inspect that the completed product doesn’t have any visual changes in ____, ____, or the presence of ____

Answer 23

visual changes in color, clarity, or the presence of particulates

Question 24

Not all incompatibilities are discovered through visual inspection. Other factors to consider are the following:

Answer 24

Temperature, Light, Time, Dilution, Compatibility, pH, and Order of mixing