Pharmacology Flashcards
What is parenteral?
Where the drugs are absorbed by means other than the digestive tract
What are the types of enteral administration?
Buccal
Sublingual
Rectal
Orally
Why do we prefer oral medication?
Convenient
Generally safer
Non invasive
Cheap
What are the parenteral routs of administration?
Sub cut
IM
IV
Why do we usually give adrenaline IM instead of IV?
Adrenaline given IV can produce lethal dysrhythmias. IM is safer and slower, so less adverse effects
What are inhalers?
Deliver drug in an atomised form, which is inhaled.
What is nebulising?
Turns drug into atomised form. Has quicker effect as quicker to reach target sites.
What is indication?
What we use the drug for. A reason to administer the drug
What is the therapeutic window?
The level of drug in the body that will produce a safe and effective dose. Too little and not enough effect. Too much and its toxic
What do we need to consider when we’re trying to make sure we’re in the therapeutic window?
Knowing the duration of effect
Knowing the time to reach peak effect
What are pharmacokinetics?
Absorption
Distribution
Metabolism
Elimination
What is absorption?
The process where unchanged drug moves from the site of administration into the blood.
It is the first major barrier to how much of the drug enters the systemic circulation
What is distribution?
Once the drug is in the systemic circulation it can be distributed to various sites within the body.
How much goes from the blood into the organs depends on the characteristic of the drugs, the physiological conditions of the tissue and the amount of drug bound to plasma proteins.
What is metabolism?
The irreversible transformation of drug into metabolites. It is the chemical transformation of a drug that mainly occurs by enzymes in the liver. Sometimes by products can be toxic. Usually metabolism makes the drug more water soluble so that it can be easily excreted.
What is elimination?
The irreversible loss of the drug from the body. Or the products.
Urine, faces, sweat, breath, saliva, breast milk.
What are pharmacodynamics?
What the drug does to the body. The effects and response.
What are receptors?
A cell molecule that recognises and binds with specific molecules producing an effect.
What are antihypertensives?
Used to manage high bp
ACE inhibitors
beta blockers
Calcium channel blockers
What are diuretics?
Frusimide
Treat high bp and excess oedema
What are benzodiazepines?
Central nervous system depressants Used for sedation (also to treat or prevent seizures anxiety muscle relaxants hypnosis insomnia
What can happen if cyclic antidepressants are taken in high doses?
They can produce fatal dysrhythmias, coma and seizures
What do we check in a drug check?
Right medication Right dose Right time Right route Right patient Colour Clarity Concentration Expiry date
What is enteral?
Where the drugs are absorbed through the digestive tract
