Terminologies in Introduction to Pharmacology

Question 1

Pharmacology

Answer 1

It is the study of drug and their interaction with living things which encompasses the physical, and chemical properties, biochemical and physiologic effects.

Question 2

Clinical Pharmacology

Answer 2

It is a study of drugs in human for patients and healthy volunteers.

Question 3

Pharmacotherapeutics

Answer 3

It is the use of drugs to diagnose, prevent or treat disease.

Question 4

Drug

Answer 4

It is any chemical that can affect living processes.

Question 5

10 Rights to Medication Administration

Answer 5

IMPORTANT FIVE
1. Right Patient
2. Right Route
3. Right Time
4. Right Drug
5. Right Dose
THE OTHER FIVE
6. Right Documentation
7. Right Education
8. Right to Refuse
9. Right Assessment
10. Right Evaluation

Question 6

Properties of an Ideal Drug

Answer 6

1. Effectiveness- a drug that elicits the responses for which it is given
2. Safety- a drug that cannot produce harmful effects even if administered in very high doses and for a very long time
3. Selectivity- a drug that elicits only the response for which it is given
4. Reversible Action- a drug actions that subside within an appropriate time
5. Predictability- a drug that we can know with certainty how a given patient will respond
6. Ease of Administration- a drug that is given conveniently with low needed doses

Question 7

Components of a Prescription Order

Answer 7

1. Client’s name
2. Date and time of prescription
3. Name of medication
4. Dosage of medication
5. Route of administration
6. Time and frequency of medication
7. Signature of prescriber

Question 8

Pharmacodynamics

Answer 8

• It is a study of the effects of the drugs on the body.
• Drugs act within the body to mimic the actions of the body’s own chemical messengers.

Question 9

Prodrugs

Answer 9

Compound that is metabolized into an active pharmacologic substance.

Question 10

Half life

Answer 10

Time it takes for the amount of drugs in the body to be reduced by half.

Question 11

Bioavailability

Answer 11

It refers to the percentage of administered drug available for activity.

Question 12

Pharmacokinetics

Answer 12

• Derived from two Greek words, Pharmakon (drug or poison) and kinesis (motion)
• It is the study of the movement of the drug throughout the body.

Question 13

4 Processes include in Pharmacokinetics

Answer 13

1. Absorption- transmission of medications from the location of administration to the bloodstream.
2. Distribution- transportation of medications to sites of action by bodily fluids.
3. Metabolism/ Biotransformation- changes medications into less active/ inactive form by the action of enzymes.
4. Excretion- elimination of drugs from the body.

Question 14

Patient Adherence

Answer 14

Also known as compliance is defined as the extent to which a patient’s behavior coincides with medical advice.

Question 15

Strategies to Improve Treatment Adherence

Answer 15

1. Therapeutic patient education (written action plans, use of drawings, photographs, videos, etc.)
2. Simplifying treatment regimes (once-daily, combined pharmacological agents, tailored to patient’s preferences and lifestyle)
   3.Maximizing placebo effects and minimizing nocebo effects
3. Minimizing treatment costs (considering providing generics)
4. Early follow-up visits and short-term treatment goals
5. Reminder program (email, phone calls, text messages, smartphone applications etc.)

Question 15

Enteral route of administration pass from the intestinal lumen to the liver via the portal vein

Answer 15

First Pass Effect

Question 16

Ethical Considerations

Answer 16

1. Respect for persons/Autonomy- treated as independent persons capable of making decisions in their own best interests, right to self-determination.
2. Beneficence- duty to protect research subjects from harm..
3. Justice- requires that the selection of research subjects be fair.

Question 17

Over the Counter Drugs (OTC)

Answer 17

• Drugs found to be safe and appropriate for use without direct supervision of the HCP.
• May be purchased without a prescription.

Question 18

Steady State, Loading and Maintenance Dose

Answer 18

Steady State- plateau drug level, amount of drug administered is equal to the amount being eliminated (optimal therapeutic effect), approx. 4 half lives.

Loading- giving a large initial dose so therapeutic effect is achieved while a steady stated is reached.

Maintenance- dose needed to maintain drug concentration at a steady state, consistent dosing and interval.

Question 19

Making PRN Decisions

Answer 19

• PRN stands for pro re nata, a Latin phrase meaning as needed.
• PRN medication order in which the nurse has discretion regarding when to give the drug and in some case, how much to give..
  -To implement this, the nurse must know the reason the drug is prescribed and be able to assess the patient’s medication needs.