Term 3: Pharmacology Flashcards
What are medications used for?
Diagnosis, treatment, cure and relief or prevention of health alterations.
Who can prescribe medication and how do they do it?
- doctor
- nurse practitioner
- midwife
- dentist
It can be written on prescription pad, written order can be faxed, order can be verbal or written on medication charts.
What is the difference between the generic name of a drug and the trade name of a drug?
The generic name is given by the manufacturer that first develops the drug (eg. paracetamol) Drug charts should be written with this name.
A trade name is given by a manufacturer that markets the drug (eg. panadol, pamol, paracare).
What is the therapeutic effect of a medication?
This is the expected response. Some medication can have more than one.
What is the side effect of a medication?
This is an unwanted, unintended yet predictable effect.
What is the adverse effect of a medication?
This is an unexpected event, may be related to the way the medication has been taken. Medication needs to be modified or discontinued.
What is the toxic effect of a medication?
This may develop after a prolonged intake of the medication.
What are the 7 rights of medication administration?
- right person
- right dose
- right route
- right time
- right documentation
- right drug
- right reason
What are platelets and what do they do?
Irregular shaped fragments of cells that are sticky. Their function is clot formation and coagulation to stop bleeding at a wound.
What is platelet production called and where does it happen?
Thrombopoiesis in the bone marrow.
What stimulates platelet production?
Thrombopoietin
How do platelets stop bleeding?
- sticking to collagen fibres and forming a plug.
- more platelets arrive at the injury
- damaged skin releases cytokines making platelets more sticky
- plug size increases
- bleeding is stopped temporarily
What does hemostasis consist of?
Vessel constriction, platelet plug formation and coagulation.
Why does vasoconstriction occur at a wound site?
To reduce the diameter of the injured vessel, preventing further blood loss
What is coagulation at a wound site?
Platelets, various blood cells and fibrin forming a permanent plug stopping bleeding.
What is undesirable clotting?
Formation of clots inside vessels. These can become large and prevent/restrict blood flow.
What is an anti coagulant?
Something that prevents clotting. Anticoagulants are produced in medications such as warfrin, heparin and aspirin.
What is aspirin used for?
Can be used as an non-steroidal anti inflammatory (NSAID)
Analgesic, and used for people with CVD
What is aspirins mode of action?
Platelets produce a chemical called thromboxane that causes platelets to clot.
COX (cyclo-oxygenase) enzyme is required for the production of thromboxane
Aspirin inhibits the action of COX blocking the production of thromboxane which prevents platelets from clotting
Aspirin should be taking with food. True or false? Why/why not?
True it should be taken with food to avoid gastric upset. It also dissolves and is absorbed faster with food.
What are some side effects of aspirin?
- GI upset/abdominal pain
- bronco spasm
- tinnitus
- dizziness
- allergic responses
Contraindications of aspirin
- people with bleeding disorders
- risk of bronchospasm/asthma
- people already taking anticoagulant therapy
- women who are pregnant or breast feeding
- people under 16 years old
Aspirin should be stopped 7 to 10 days before surgery why?
To prevent excessive blood loss
