Test 1 Flashcards
Clinical pharmacology
drugs used to treat, prevent, or diagnose disease
Phase I drug study
Healthy human volunteers who are often paid for their participation
The generic name of a drug is
the name assigned to the drug by the pharmaceutical company developing it
An orphan drug is
has been tested but is not considered to be financially viable
The FDA pregnancy categories
indicate a drug’s potential or actual teratogenicity effects
The strong, prescribing, and distribution of controlled substances-drugs-are monitored by
the DEA
Health young women are not usually involved in phase I studies of drugs because
females are more apt to suffer problems with ova, which are formed only before birth
A pt. has been taking fluoxetine (prozac), the tables start to look different, the nurse should tell the pt.
the law requires that prescriptions be filled with generic form if available to cut down the cost of medications
When teaching a pt about OTC drugs
- Some of these drugs were once prescription drugs, but now thought to be safe to use as directed
- Read the label of drugs to know active ingredient
- Important to read the label and the recommended dose
- Important to report use to provider
Generic drug
a drug sold by the name of the ingredient, not by the brand name
generic drugs are not available until the patent expires on the drug
generic drugs are usually cheaper
physician may want you to have the brand name and will have DAW
Chemotherapeutic agents are drugs that
interfere with foreign cell functioning, such as, invading microorganisms or neoplasms
Receptor sites
are protein areas on cell membranes that react with specific chemicals
Selective toxicity is
the ability of a drug to attack only those systems found in foreign or abnormal cells
When trying to determine why the desired therapeutic effect is not being seen with an oral drug, the nurse should consider
food altering the makeup of gastric juices
Much of the biotransformation that occurs when a drug is taken occurs as part of
the first pass effect through the liver
The half life of a drug
is determined by a balance of all pharmocokinetic processes
When reviewing a drug to be given, the nurse notes that the drug is excreted in the urine. What points should be included in the nurse’s assessment of the pt?
The pt. renal function tests
The pt. fluid intake
Other drugs being taken that could affect the kidney
When considering pharmacokinetics of a drug, what points would the nurse need to consider?
How the drug will be absorbed
How the drug will be excreted
How the drug will be metabolized
The half life of the drug
Drug-drug interactions are important considerations in clinical practice. When evaluating a pt for potential drug-drug interactions, what would the nurse expect to address?
The need to adjust drug dose or timing of administration
Increased adverse effects
The use of herbal or alternative therapies
An example of a drug allergy
breathing difficulty after an injection of penicillin
A pt. taking glyburide (antidiebetic drug) has his morning dose and then does not have a chance to eat for several hours. An adverse effect that might be expected from this would be
hypoglycemia
Pt. with severe infection is given gentamicin. Few hrs later the pt. becomes restless and develops edema. Blood test reveal abnormal electrolytes and elevated blood urea nitrogen. This reaction was most likely caused by
renal toxicity associated with gentamicin
Pt. receiving antineoplastic drugs that disrupt cell function often have adverse effects involving cells that turn over rapidly in the body. These cells include
bone marrow cells
A woman has had repeated bouts of bronchitis. She is taking an antibiotic. She develops a yeast infection. How does the nurse explain this to her?
she has developed a superinfection because the antibiotics kills bacteria that normally provide protection.
Knowing that a pt is taking a loop diuretic and is at risk for developing hypokalemia, the nurse would assess the pt. for
weak pulse, low bp, and muscle cramping
Pt. taking a drug that is known to be toxic to the liver. What teaching points are related to liver toxicity?
Fever, changes in color of urine
Changes in the color of the stool, malaise
Yellowing of the skin or the whites in the eyes
Pregnant women should be advised of the potential risk to the fetus. What fetal problems can be related to drug exposure in utero?
Fetal death Nervous system disruption Skeletal and limb abnormalities Cardiac defects Low set ears Deafness
