Pharmacology

Question 1

This is a fluid and interactive process, composed of two elements:

Answer 1

pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics.

Question 2

Pharmacodynamics can be viewed as

Answer 2

the drug’s effect on the body

Question 3

Pharmacokinetics can be considered

Answer 3

the body’s effect on the drug

Question 4

Four principles of pharmacokinetics

Answer 4

absorption
distribution
biotransformation
and excretion

Question 5

Five primary medication effects

Answer 5

Pharmacological effect
Side effects
Idiosyncratic effects
Allergic reactions
Discontinuance syndrome

Question 6

Agonist

Answer 6

Drug or chemical that acts on a receptor to mimic the effects of a naturally occurring substance (such as a hormone or neurotransmitter), or of another chemical; for example, beta adrenergic agonist medications mimic epinephrine and produce relaxation of bronchial (lung) muscles to treat asthma.

Question 7

Antagonist

Answer 7

Substance or drug capable of blocking (at the receptor) the activity of an agonist without exerting any effect itself. For example, antipsychotics are dopamine receptor antagonists.

Question 8

Differential diagnosis

Answer 8

The process of considering diagnostic possibilities

based on a comparison of signs and symptoms of two or more disorders or diseases.

Question 9

Egodystonic

Answer 9

Symptoms subjectively experienced by the patient as being aversive, undesirable, or alien.

Question 10

Egosyntonic

Answer 10

Signs or symptoms judged to be pathological by others but not experienced as distressing by the patient.

Question 11

Toxicity

Answer 11

Serious medication-related adverse effects associated with actual or potential damage to tissues, organs, or the entire body system. Toxicity may be directly related to critically elevated blood levels of a drug and may be acute (as in a tranquilizer overdose) or chronic (as in prolonged, moderately elevated lithium level). A drug may also produce “toxic effects” at therapeutic doses
(such as phenothiazine’s potential for inducing bone marrow damage, which in turn causes decreased production of white blood cells).