Pharmacology feb 24 Flashcards
What is a drug?
Chemical agents used in the diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of disease
Define pharmacokinetics
The study of drug movement through the body
What is pharmacodynamics?
Study of the biochemical and physiologic effects of drugs and the molecular mechanisms by which those drugs are produced
What do indications refer to in pharmacology?
Medical condition(s) in which the drug has proven to be of therapeutic value
Define contraindications
Medical or physiological condition(s) present in a patient that would make it harmful to administer a medication
What are side effects?
The unavoidable, undesirable effects frequently seen even in therapeutic drug dosages
What is a loading dose?
A quantity higher than the average or maintenance dose, used at the initiation of therapy to rapidly establish a desired level of the drug
Define half-life in pharmacology
The time required for half the amount of a drug introduced into a living system to be eliminated by a natural process
What does the term ‘potentiation’ refer to?
A synergistic action in which the effect of 2 drugs given simultaneously is greater than the effect of the drugs given separately
What is drug absorption?
The movement of a drug from its site of administration into the blood
List factors affecting drug absorption
- Rate of dissolution
- Blood flow
- Lipid solubility
- Surface area
- pH
What determines drug distribution in the body?(3)
Blood flow to tissues, the drug’s ability to exit the vascular system, and ability of a drug to enter cells
Define metabolism in pharmacology
The enzymatic alteration of drug structure, primarily occurring in the liver
What are the factors affecting metabolism?(5)
- Age
- Nutritional status
- First-pass effect
- Drug metabolizing enzymes
- Competition between drugs
What is excretion in pharmacology?
The removal of drugs from the body, primarily through renal excretion
List the routes of drug administration
- IV (intravenous)
- IM (intramuscular)
- SQ (subcutaneous)
- ID (intradermal)
- IN (intranasal)
- Inhalation
- Oral
- Rectal
What are the six rights of medication administration?
- Right medication
- Right dosage
- Right route
- Right time
- Right patient
- Right site
How is the volume to be administered calculated?
Desired dose to be given / Known dose on hand x volume on hand
What is the optimal site for intranasal drug delivery?
Highly vascularized mucous membranes and surface area
What is the ideal volume for intranasal administration?
0.2 – 0.3 mL, not to exceed 1 mL per nostril
What should be documented after drug administration?
- Time of administration
- Dose
- Route
- Effect
True or False: Addiction is defined as uncontrollable dependence on a substance.
True
What is the difference between a generic name and a trade name?
A generic name is an abbreviated version of the chemical name, while a trade name is based on its chemical name or the type of problem it is used for.
Fill in the blank: The _______ is responsible for the majority of drug metabolism.
liver
What is the typical gauge and length of needle used for IM injections?
21 - 23 gauge needle, 1 - 1.5 inch needle
What should be done before withdrawing medication from a vial?
Clean the rubber stopper with an alcohol swab
What is the appropriate angle for inserting a subcutaneous injection?
45 degrees to the skin
What is the purpose of the first-pass effect?
To determine the extent to which a drug is metabolized before it reaches systemic circulation
What is the maximum volume that can be administered in the deltoid for IM injections?
Up to 3 mL
What is the primary method for drug excretion from the body?
Renal excretion
List some common PCP medications
- Acetaminophen
- Epinephrine
- Naloxone
- Ibuprofen
- Nitroglycerin
