Pharmacology Flashcards
4 different names for drugs
Chemical name
Generic name
Brand name
Official name
Definition of pharmacokinetics
How the body processes the drug.
Absorption, distribution, metabolism, elimination
Definition of pharmacodynamics
How the drug affects the body (mechanism of action)
6 rights of drug administration
Right patient Right drug Right dose Right route Right time Right documentation
Drugs routes of entry and onset of action
IO/IV: 30-60s Endotracheal: 2-3min Inhalation: 2-3min Sublingual: 3-5min IM: 10-20min Subcutaneous: 15-30min Rectal: 5-30 min Oral: 30-90min Topical: minutes to hours
Onset of action
Duration of time it takes for a drug to reach its therapeutic range
Duration of action
Time of onset to the time of end in the therapeutic range
Potency
Amount of drug required to reach the therapeutic effect
Therapeutic range
The range between the desired effect and toxicity of a drug
Therapeutic index
Lethal dose divided by the start of the therapeutic dose.
The closer the value is to one = narrower margins of safety.
Factors affecting drug response
Age, body mass, sex, environment, route, time of administration, pathology, genetics, psychology
Side effect
An unintended response to a drug
Untoward effect
A side effect that proves harmful
Idiosyncrasy
Unusual effect of a drug unique to the patient
Drug allergy
Antibody/antigen (immune) response
Drug dependence
Physical or psychological need for a drug
Tolerance
Patient becomes accustomed to a drug, requiring more to achieve desired effect.
Cross tolerance
Tolerance is built up for a drug due to a different drug.
Tachyphylaxis
Rapid occurrence of tolerance to a drug.
Drug interaction
Drug effects on another drug in the system.
Enteral route
Any route involving the GI tract (mouth to anus)
Parenteral route
Any route other than the GI tract, skin, or mucous membranes (IM, IV, SC, IO)
Synergism
2 drugs acting on the body via different mechanisms, but the overall sum of effect is greater than adding each drug together (1+1=3)
Antagonism
Simultaneous administration of 2 drugs will decrease the effect of one drug (1+1=1)
Potentiation
Type of synergism in which 1 drug will enhance the effects of another drug
Summation
2 drugs act on the same receptor and their combined effect is the sum of the 2 drugs together (1+1=2)
IV solutions
Isotonic (NS 0.9% NaCl) Hypotonic (net osmosis into cell) Hypertonic (net osmosis out of cell) Crystalloid (dissolved crystals) Colloid (draws fluid into vasculature)
3-to-1 rule for crystalloid support of loss of blood pressure
3 ml of isotonic crystalloid solution is required to replace 1ml of blood lost.
Microdrip sets
Allow 60 gtt per ml. Ideal for medication administration
Macrodrip sets
Allow 10 or 15 gtt/ml. Best for rapid fluid replacement.
Local IV site reactions
Infiltration (escape of fluid into surrounding tissue) Thrombophlebitis Occlusion Vein irritation Hematoma Nerve, tendon, ligament damage Arterial puncture
Systemic complications to IV insertion
Allergic reactions Pyrogenic reactions (abrupt temp increase) Circulatory overload Air embolus Vasovagal reactions (anxiety to needles) Cannula shear
Percutaneous route
Any route of medication administration via the skin or mucous membranes (topical patch, SL, buccal, inhalation)
IM injection amount
1 to 5 ml of medication
SC medication amounts
2 ml or less
Potential complications of IV therapy
Infiltration Thrombophlebitis Occlusion Vein irritation Hematoma Nerve, tendon, ligament damage Arterial puncture
Med math calculation for volume to be administered
Volume on hand: typically in ml
Desired dose: amount to administer
Concentration on hand: amount of medication in solvent
Volume on hand x desired dose / concentration on hand = volume to be administered.
5ml x 70mg / 100mg = 3.5ml
Med math IV infusion drip rate calculation
Total amount of fluid to be infused x admin drop set / total time in minutes.
1000ml x 10 gtt/ml / 480 minutes = 20.83 gtt/min
Med math calculation for finding out concentration on hand
Concentration on hand / volume on hand
500mg / 10ml = 50mg/ml
Commonly prescribed beta blockers
Metoprolol Propranolol Atenolol Bisoprolol Acebutolol Labetalol
Commonly prescribed calcium channel blockers
Diltiazem Verapamil Amiodipine Felodipine Nifedipine
Commonly prescribed diuretics
Bumetanide Ethacrynic acid Furosemide Apresoline Indapamide Metolazone Spironolactone Thiazides hydrochlorothiazide
Commonly prescribed ACE inhibitors and angiotensin 2 blockers
Candesartan (AT-2 blocker) Captopril Enalapril Irbesartan (AT-2 blocker) Losartan (AT-2 blocker) Lisinopril Ramipril Telmisartan (AT-2 blocker) Valsartan (AT-2 blocker)
