Pharmacology Flashcards
MEDICATION vs DRUG
Medication refers to a substance used to treat an illness or condition.
Drug is any substance that produces a physiologic effect (whether therapeutic or not) when used in a clinical sense.
EVERY MEDICATION IS A DRUG, NOT EVERY DRUG IS MEDICATION.
PHARMACOLOGY
Scientific study of how various substances interact with or alter the function of a living organism.
Pure Food and Drug Act (1906)
Prohibited altering or mislabeling medications
Opium Exclusion Act (1909)
Opium was prohibited from being imported
Harrison Narcotics Act (1914)
Restricted the use of various opiates and cocaine
Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (1938)
FDA was given enforcement authority for rules requiring that new drugs were safe and pure
“off-label”
purpose not approved by the FDA
Controlled Substances Act (1970)
classifies certain medications with the potential of abuse into five categories (schedules)
Schedule I
may not be prescribed, dispensed, used, or administered for medical use. High abuse potential; no recognized medical purpose
Schedule I Examples
Heroin, Marijuana***, LSD
***CONTROVERSIAL
Schedule II
High abuse potential; legitimate medical purpose
Schedule II Examples
Fentanyl (sublimaze), methylphenidate (ritalin), cocaine
Schedule III
lower potential for abuse
Schedule III Examples
Hydrocodone (vicodin), acetaminophen with codeine (tylenol with codeine #3), ketamine
Schedule IV
lower potential for abuse than Schedule III
Schedule IV Examples
diazepam (valium), lorazepam (ativan)
Schedule V
lower potential for abuse than Schedule IV drugs
Schedule IV Examples
narcotic cough medicines
Sources of Medication
Plant
Animal
Microorganism
Mineral
Synthetic (made in laboratory setting)
Semisynthetic (made from chemicals derived from P, A, or M sources then modified in lab setting)
Genetic Engineering
Plant Sourced Medications
Atropine, aspirin, digoxin, morphine
Animal Sourced Medication
Heparin, antivenom, thyroid preparations, insulin
Microorganism Sourced Medications
streptokinase, numerous antibiotics
(bacteria, fungi, mold)
Mineral Sourced Medications
iron, magnesium sulfate, lithium, phosphorus, calcium
Class of Medication
grouping to which a medication belongs
Three names of medication
Chemical, Generic, Brand
Indication
a sign/symptom; reason for giving a medication
Mechanism of Action
the way in which a medication produces the intended response
Onset
estimated time it will take for medication to take effect
Peak
estimated amount of time it will take for medication to have greatest effect
Duration
estimated amount of time that the medication will have an effect
Medication Monograph
profile including medication information
Affinity
ability of a medication to bind with a particular receptor site
Efficacy
ability to initiate of alter cell activity in a desired manner
Harmful environmental effects to medication
direct sunlight, extreme heat or cold, physical damage
Pharmacodynamics
process of a medication altering a function or process of body
Side Effect vs Adverse Effect
Side Effect usually expected reaction to medication
Adverse Effect an unexpected/undesired response to a medication
Pharmacodynamics
biochemical and physiologic effects and mechanism of actions of a medication
Pharmacokinetics
activity of medications in the body over time, such as absorption, distribution, and elimination
Processes of Medication Administration
- Absorption
- Distribution
- Biotransformation (metabolism)
- Elimination
Agonist Medications
initiate or alter a cellular activity by attaching to a receptor site
(prompts cell response)
Antagonist Medications
prevent endogenous or exogenous agonist chemicals from reaching cell receptor sites and initiating or altering a particular cellular activity
(BLOCKS a certain response)
Beta 1
One Heart
P-450
alters the chemical structure of a medication
(mainly liver)
Define Pharmacology
scientific study of how various substances interact with/alter the function of living organisms
Define Medication
substance used to treat an illness or condition
Paramedics are likely to carry and administer which schedules of drugs
Schedule II and Schedule IV
Medications are either _____ or _____ (pertaining to sources)
synthetic or semisynthetic
Semisynthetic medications are derived from (4 things)
plants, animals, minerals, microorganisms
Med names are either ____ (3 names)
Generic, chemical, brand
Define Indication
circumstance that points to/shows cause, pathology, treatment, or issue of an attack or disease
albuterol is indicated for broncho-constriction
Define Mechanism of Action
way in which a medication produces the intended response
Define Contraindicated
any condition, especially a disease, that renders some particular line of treatment improper or undesirable
Most basic concern regarding medication storage is the ______
integrity of the medication container
USP-NF recommended temp range for medication storage is…
15-30 degrees C
Define Absorption
process by which molecules of substance are moved from the site of entry/administration into systemic circulation
Define Distribution
movement and transportation of a medication throughout the bloodstream to tissues and cells, and ultimately to its target receptor
Biotransformation
process with 4 possible effects of how a medication can be absorbed into the body
Define Elimination
ability of a medication to bind with a particular receptor site
Define Affinity
ability of a medication to bind with a particular receptor site
Threshold Level
concentration of medication at which initiation or alteration of cellular activity begins
Define Potency
concentration of medication required to initiate a cellular response
Define Efficacy
ability to initiate/alter cell activity in a therapeutic/desired manner
Diuretic
chemical that increases urinary output
Agonist Medication
initiate/alter cellular activity by attaching to receptor sites
Partial Agonist
binds to receptor site but do not initiate as much cellular activity or change as do other agonists
Full agonist
binds to a receptor site and initiates all activity the receptor is responsible for
Antagonist
binds to receptor site to prevent a cellular response to agonist chemicals
block a certain response
Competitive Antagonist
TEMPORARILY bind with cellular receptor sites, displacing agonist chemicals
Noncompetitive Antagonist
PERMANENTLY bind with receptor sites and prevent activation by agonist chemicals