Pharmacology Flashcards
What are the 8 National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Safety Standards?
- Clinical governance
- Partnering with consumers
- Preventing and controlling healthcare associated infection standard
- Medication safety standard
- Comprehensive care standard
- Communicating for safety
- Blood management
- Recognising and responding to acute deterioration
Define Pharmacotherapy
The study of drugs defined as treating or preventing disease and the alleviation of pain and suffering. Study of the effects of drugs
Define Pharmacodynamics
The study of what a drug does to the body or, more specifically, the study of the biochemical and physiological effects of drugs in the body
Define Pharmacokinetics
Refers to the movement of drugs into, through, and out of the body; it is what the body does to the drug
What are the 4 areas of study in Pharmacokinetics?
Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism and Excretion.
What are the component factors of Absorption?
Route, Ability to Dissolve, Blood flow, Body surface area, Lipid solubility, Presence of food
What are the component factors of Distribution?
Blood flow, Membrane permeability, Presence of serum proteins that limit pharmacological effect
What is Metabolism and where does it primarily take place?
Enzymatic alteration of drug structure which primarily happens in the liver
What are the component factors of Metabolism?
Age, Nutrition (malnourish patients have diminished metabolism), Competition between drugs
Where can Excretion take place?
Kidney, Liver, Bowel, Lungs and Exocrine Glands
What are the Quality Use of Medicines (QUM) of Australia’s National Medicines Policy’s 3 keys quality use?
Wise, Necessary, Safe and Effective
What factors should the nurse be able to describe to their patient about a medication?
Drug name and therapeutic category. Dosage amount and schedule. Route and administration technique. Expected response. Duration of treatment. Method of drug storage. Symptoms of major side effects
What are the 3 types of drug names?
Chemical, Generic and Brand name
What are the 5 main types of oral medications?
Tablet Capsule Enteric coated Sustained release (PR) Liquid
What types of oral administration are there?
Oral (PO)
Sublingual (under tongue)
Buccal (inside cheek)
Nebulized (NEB)
What types Parenteral routes are there?
Subcutaneous (Subcut)
Intramuscular (IM)
Intravenous (IV)
What types of topical routes are there?
Skin Mucous membrane Ear Eye Vagina (PV) Rectum (PR)
Schedule 1
Not Currently in medical use EG heroin, LSD
Schedule 2 and 3
Pharmacy medicines. Safe in use but require counselling with administration. EG some local anaesthetics and analgesics
Schedule 4
Prescription only medications. EG strong analgesics like panadeine forte. Most benzos
Schedule 5
Caution. EG Lyrica, Robitussin
Schedule 6
Poisons. Amyl and nangs
Schedule 7
Dangerous poison. Arsenic, Cyanide
Schedule 8
Controlled Drug. Includes opioid analgesics like morphine and fentanyl. Two benzos: flunitrazepam and alprazolam (xanax) and ketamine
Schedule 9
Prohibited Substance. MDMA, Synthetic cannabinoids .
Schedule 10
Substances of such danger to health as to warrant prohibition of sale, supply and use
Name the three colour codes of shift planning priority from lowest to highest
Blue
Green
Red
What is Coloxyl with Senna?
Oral medication that treats constipation by softening stool and working as a stimulant laxative.
Should be taken after the evening meal and patients should ensure they are intake adequate amounts of fluid and fibre
What is Furosemide?
An oral medication that treats fluid retention, heart failure, liver damage, renal impairment, nephrotic syndrome and hypertension.
It is a diuretic that has these effects by inhibiting reabsorption of sodium and chloride in the ascending loop of Henle in the kidney.
Can cause hypotension and is contraindicated in severe sodium and fluid depletion. Monitor electrolyte levels
What is Esomeprazole?
Oral tablet or IV medication treats GORD (acid reflux) and peptic ulcer disease.
Works as a proton pump inhibitor (PPI). It reduces secretion of gastric acid by inhibiting the gastric ATPase enzyme in the parietal cells in the stomach
Normally comes in enteric tablets so should not be crushed. Can interact with St John’s Wart so avoid combining them
What is Atorvastatin?
Oral medication that treats Hypercholesterolaemia and risk factors for Heart Disease
It increases hepatic cholesterol uptake from blood which reduces concentrations of total cholesterol
Ideally taken at night as more effective
What is Ibuprofen?
Oral or IV medication that treats pain. Especially due to inflammation, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Considered a Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Agent (NSAID)
Inhibit synthesis of prostaglandins by inhibiting cyclo-oxygenase (COX) present as COX‑1 and COX‑2:
May reduce aspirin’s antiplatelet activity and should be administered with food to avoid GI ulceration
What is Cephalexin?
Oral or IV medication that treats infection. Especially in the respiratory tract, in the skin and in the GIT system. Antibiotic
Inhibits cell wall synthesis
Contraindicated in patients with a known allergy to the cephalosporin group of antibiotics
What is Perindopril?
Oral medication that treats Hypertension of Heart Failure. Antihypertensive; ACE inhibitor
Inhibits angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE)
Will decrease BP and make patient feel dizzy. Always assess BP prior to administration
What is Metformin?
Oral medication that treats Type 2 Diabetes. It’s a hypoglycaemic agent
Lowers both basal and postprandial plasma glucose
Tablets must be taken with food
What is Pregablin?
Oral medication that treats neuropathic pain and seizures. Works as a CNS anticonvulsant and analgesia
May cause dizziness and sleepiness
