Routes of Entry Flashcards
What are the medication rights prior to administration?
- Right drug
- Right dose
- Right route
- Right time
- Right patient
Each right ensures safe medication administration and minimizes errors.
What is pharmacokinetics?
How drug is moving within the body
It includes absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion.
What is the onset time for oral-enteral medications?
20-60 minutes
Oral-enteral medications must travel to the stomach before being absorbed.
What is the definition of enteral medications?
Medications absorbed through the GI tract
Includes oral and rectal routes.
What is intranasal administration?
Nasal administration can be drops or gels, including aerosols
Can provide medications like Narcan effectively.
What does sublingual/buccal administration refer to?
Administration under the tongue or between the cheek and teeth
Allows for quick diffusion into the bloodstream.
What is transdermal medication?
Medication applied to the skin and enters the circulatory system through diffusion
Patches can provide controlled-release forms for extended periods.
What are the forms of vaginal and rectal medications?
- Vaginal: Cream, gel, capsule
- Rectal: Suppositories
Suppositories are often oil-based to avoid irritation.
What is the primary use of inhalation medications?
Work directly into the respiratory system
Administered via aerosol or powder.
Define parenteral medications.
Injectable medications directly into the muscle, bloodstream, or skin
They bypass the GI tract and first pass effect.
What is the difference between pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics?
- Pharmacokinetics: What the body does to the drug
- Pharmacodynamics: What the drug does to the body
These concepts are crucial for understanding drug action.
What are the four phases of pharmacokinetics?
- Absorption
- Distribution
- Metabolism
- Excretion
These phases describe how a drug moves through the body.
What is active transport in drug absorption?
Requires ATP to move against a concentration gradient
It is one of the mechanisms for drug absorption.
What is first-order kinetics?
A constant fraction of the drug is absorbed into the bloodstream
Applies to all routes except IV.
What is zero-order kinetics?
100% of the drug is available immediately via IV administration
This means the drug enters the bloodstream directly.
What factors influence drug distribution?
- Blood flow to tissues and organs
- Plasma protein binding
Highly perfused organs receive drugs more rapidly.
What is the blood-brain barrier?
Protective membrane limiting drug passage to the brain
Only lipid-soluble drugs can cross.
What is the primary site of drug metabolism?
Liver
The liver is the main site for drug breakdown.
What is the first pass effect?
Orally administered drugs undergo metabolism in the liver before reaching systemic circulation
This reduces the amount available for therapeutic effect.
What are the primary routes for drug excretion?
- Kidneys (urine)
- Liver (bile)
- Other routes: sweat, breast milk, feces
The kidneys are the main organ for drug elimination.
What are the two main mechanisms by which drugs act?
- Drug-Receptor Interactions
- Drug-Enzyme Interactions
These interactions determine the effects of drugs on the body.
What type of foods can interfere with drug absorption?
- Dairy products
- Acidic foods
Certain foods can slow absorption or alter drug effectiveness.
What is the significance of tyramine-containing foods?
Can cause dangerous interactions with certain drugs, like MAO inhibitors
This can lead to hypertensive crises.
How many medication rights must be verified before drug administration?
6
The 6 rights include the right drug, dose, route, time, patient, and documentation.
Which right ensures that the patient receives the correct medication?
Right drug
The right drug ensures that the correct medication is administered.
When verifying the right dose, what factors should be considered?
All of the above
Dose accuracy depends on weight, organ function, and individual factors.
What does the right route ensure?
That the drug is administered via the correct method
The right route ensures the correct method of administration (e.g., oral, IV).
Why is the right time critical in medication administration?
To ensure peak plasma levels for effectiveness
Timely administration ensures that peak plasma levels are achieved for maximum effectiveness.
Why is verifying the right patient important?
To ensure medication safety and prevent errors
Verifying the right patient prevents medication errors and ensures safety.
What is the onset time for oral medications?
20-60 minutes
Oral medications typically take 20–60 minutes to take effect due to absorption in the GI tract.
What type of drug administration bypasses the first-pass effect?
IV
IV administration bypasses the liver, providing 100% bioavailability.
What is the term for medications administered through the gastrointestinal (GI) tract?
Enteral
Enteral administration refers to drugs absorbed through the GI tract (e.g., oral, rectal).
Which route of administration provides the fastest onset?
IV
IV administration works almost immediately because the drug is delivered directly into the bloodstream.
Which route involves the application of medication directly onto the skin?
Transdermal
Transdermal medications diffuse through the skin into the bloodstream.
What is an example of a medication administered via the intranasal route?
Narcan spray
Narcan (Naloxone) is often administered intranasally to reverse opioid overdoses.
What is the main advantage of the sublingual route?
Bypasses first-pass metabolism
Sublingual administration bypasses the liver, increasing drug bioavailability.
Which of the following is an example of a buccal medication?
Nitroglycerin
Nitroglycerin is commonly administered sublingually or buccally for angina.
Which route of administration involves placing medication inside the cheek?
Buccal
Buccal administration involves placing the medication between the cheek and gum.
What is the study of how a drug moves through the body?
Pharmacokinetics
Pharmacokinetics studies how drugs move through absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion.
What is the first stage of pharmacokinetics?
Absorption
Absorption is the process by which a drug enters the bloodstream.
Where does the majority of drug metabolism occur?
Liver
The liver is the primary site of drug metabolism.
What term describes the breakdown of a drug into inactive metabolites?
Metabolism
Metabolism involves the breakdown of drugs, primarily in the liver.
What does first-pass metabolism refer to?
Metabolism in the liver before entering systemic circulation
First-pass metabolism occurs when orally administered drugs pass through the liver before reaching systemic circulation.
Which route bypasses first-pass metabolism?
Intravenous
IV administration bypasses the liver and provides 100% bioavailability.
What transport mechanism involves the movement of drugs from high to low concentration without energy?
Passive diffusion
Passive diffusion occurs without energy, moving drugs from high to low concentration.
Which process uses carrier proteins to move drugs across cell membranes?
Facilitated diffusion
Facilitated diffusion uses carrier proteins but does not require energy.
What is an example of a zero-order kinetic drug?
IV medications
IV administration follows zero-order kinetics, where 100% of the drug is available immediately.
What does pharmacodynamics study?
How drugs affect the body
Pharmacodynamics explains how drugs affect the body and interact with receptors.
What term describes a drug binding to a receptor to produce a biological effect?
Agonism
Agonists bind to receptors and produce a biological response.
Which of the following is an example of an antagonist?
Naloxone
Naloxone is an opioid antagonist that blocks opioid effects.
What is the goal of pharmacodynamics?
To achieve the desired therapeutic effect
The goal of pharmacodynamics is to achieve the desired therapeutic effect while minimizing adverse effects.
Which receptors do opioids bind to?
MU receptors
Opioids bind to MU receptors to produce analgesic and euphoric effects.
What is an adverse effect?
An unwanted, harmful reaction to a drug
Adverse effects are unwanted reactions caused by a drug.
What can increase the risk of adverse effects?
Drug interactions
Drug interactions can increase the risk of adverse effects.
What is an example of a drug-food interaction?
MAO inhibitors with tyramine-rich foods
MAO inhibitors can cause dangerous interactions with tyramine-rich foods, leading to hypertensive crises.
What can slow the absorption of oral medications?
Fatty meals
Fatty meals can slow the absorption of oral medications by delaying gastric emptying.
