Section 2: Mechanisms of Drug Action Flashcards
True or False:
Drugs generally exert several effects rather than a single one
True (Pg. 282)
Why is it important to obtain a patient medical history and being able to recognize and understand the reasons why certain drugs are prescribed?
May help establish a field diagnosis. Thus, being able to use the right drug to manage the illness, disease, or condition. (Pg. 282 NOTE)
True or False:
Drugs do not confer any new functions on a tissue or organ; they only modify existing functions.
True (Pg. 283)
Pharmacology Terminology:
A drug that interacts with a receptor and initiates the expected response
Agonist (Pg. 283)
Pharmacology Terminology:
A drug that attaches to a receptor but does not stimulate a response.
Or
Designed to inhibit or counteract the effects of other drugs or undesired effects caused by normal or hyperactive physiological mechanisms
Antagonist (Pg. 283)
Pharmacology Terminology:
The opposition of effects between two or more medications that occurs when the combined (conjoint) effect of two drugs is less than the sum of the drugs acting separately.
Antagonism (Pg. 283 Box 13-4)
Pharmacology Terminology:
Medical or physiological factors that make it harmful to administer a medication that would otherwise have therapeutic value
Contraindications (Pg. 283 Box 13-4)
Pharmacology Terminology:
The tendency for repeated doses of a drug to accumulate in the blood and organs, causing increased and sometimes toxic effects; it occurs when several doses are administered or when absorption occurs more quickly than removal by excretion or metabolism
Cumulative action (Pg. 283 Box 13-4)
Pharmacology Terminology:
A substance that decreases a body function or activity
Depressant (Pg. 283 Box 13-4)
Pharmacology Terminology:
A systemic reaction to a drug resulting from previous sensitizing exposure and the development of an immunological mechanism
Drug allergy (Pg. 283 Box 13-4)
Pharmacology Terminology:
A state in which withdrawal of a drug produces intense physical or emotional disturbance, previously known as habituation
Drug dependence (Pg. 283 Box 13-4)
Pharmacology Terminology:
Beneficial or detrimental modification of the effects of one drug by the prior or concurrent administration of another drug that increases or decreases the pharmacological or physiological action of one or both drugs
Drug interaction (Pg. 283 Box 13-4)
Pharmacology Terminology:
Abnormal or peculiar responses to a drug (accounting for 25% to 30% of all drug reactions) thought to result from genetic enzymatic deficiencies or other unique physiological variables and leading to abnormal mechanisms of drug metabolism or altered physiological effects of the drug.
Idiosyncrasy (Pg. 283 Box 13-4)
Pharmacology Terminology:
The enhancement of effect caused by the concurrent administration of two drugs in which one drug increases the effect of the other drug.
Potentiation (Pg. 283 Box 13-4)
Pharmacology Terminology:
Undesirable and often unavoidable effect of using therapeutic doses of a drug; action or effect other than those for which the drug was originally given.
Side effect (Pg. 283 Box 13-4)
Pharmacology Terminology:
A drug that enhances or increases body function or activity
Stimulant (Pg. 283 Box 13-4)
Pharmacology Terminology:
The combined effect of two drugs such that the total effect equals the sum of the individual effects of each agent (1+1=2)
Summation (Pg. 283 Box 13-4)
Pharmacology Terminology:
The combined action of two drugs such that the total effect exceeds the sum of the individual effects of each agent. (1+1=3 or more)
Synergism (Pg. 283 Box 13-4)
Pharmacology Terminology:
The desired, intended action of a drug
Therapeutic action (Pg. 283 Box 13-4)
Pharmacology Terminology:
Decreased physiological response to the repeated administration of a drug or chemically related substance, possibly necessitating an increase in dosage to maintain a therapeutic effect (tachyphylaxis)
Tolerance (Pg. 283 Box 13-4)
Pharmacology Terminology:
A side effect that proved harmful to the patient
Untoward effect (Pg. 283 Box 13-4)
Pharmaceutical Phase:
All drugs must be in ________ to cross the cell membranes to achieve absorption. The term ________ refers to the rate at which a solid drug goes into solution after ingestion. The faster the rate of ________, the more quickly the drug is absorbed.
Solution, Dissolution, Dissolution (Pg. 283)
The study of how the body handles a drug over a period of time.
Pharmacokinetics (Pg. 283)
The process of absorption, distribution, biotransformation, and excretion. These factors affect a patients response to drug therapy
Pharmacokinetic Phase (Pg. 283)