Unit 1 Pharmacotherapy

Question 1

the study of drugs and their origin, nature, properties, and effects upon living organisms

Answer 1

Pharmacology

Question 2

the use of medicine in the treatment of disease

Answer 2

Pharmacotherapy

Question 3

List Idea characteristics of pharmacotherapy resources

Answer 3

Current, Complete, Easy to Use, Unbiased

Question 4

List the types of available pharmacotherapy resources

Answer 4

Print, Computer Based, Online, Patient Education, Other

Question 5

Give Examples of Print Pharmacotherapy resources

Answer 5

textbooks, reference books, handbooks, journals, newsletters

Question 6

Give examples of computer-based pharmacotherapy resources

Answer 6

reference books & handbooks on CD-ROM
Medline
Micromedex

Question 7

Give examples of on-line pharmacotherapy resources

Answer 7

Government Agencies: FDA, CDC, NIH
Organizations: AHA, ACS, etc
Journals
National Therapeutic Guideline Clearing house
Pharmaceutical companies (prescription info)

Question 8

Give examples of “other” pharmacotherapy resources

Answer 8

poison control; pharmaceutical companies

Question 9

List Pros and Cons of Print Pharmacotherapy resources

Answer 9

Pros:
Textbook = most complete; journals = most updated
Handbooks = small easy to carry around
Newsletters= most updated;
All: supposed to be unbiased

Cons:
textbooks, reference books = hard to carry around
journals, newsletters = pay for subscription

Question 10

List Pros and Cons of computer-based pharmacotherapy resources

Answer 10

Pros:
Easy to use, current information
All: supposed to be unbiased

Cons:

Question 11

List Pros and Cons of online resources

Answer 11

Pros:
Easy to use, fast to access information

Cons:
Inappropriate searches = wrong information

Question 12

List Pros and Cons of Patient Education Materials

Answer 12

Pros:
Can educate a large number of people (language, blind, etc)

Cons:
Inappropriate searches = wrong information

Question 13

Give Examples of other types of pharmacotherapy resources

Answer 13

Poison Control; pharmaceutical companies

Question 14

List Pros and Cons of Other resources such as poison control and pharmaceutical companies

Answer 14

Pros:
Complete information on medication: updated

Cons:
Might be harder to access information if not near by

Question 15

List 10 Guiding Principles of Pharmacotherapy

Answer 15

1. Justifiable & documented indication for every medication
2. Lowest dose & shortest duration to achieve desired outcome
3. Do not use > 1 medication if 1 alone is adequate
4. Use newly approved medications only when there are clear advantages over older medications
5. Timing of drug administration may influence efficacy, adverse effects & interactions w/ other drugs & food
6. Simplify medication regimen to enhance patient adherence
7. Patient perception of illness or the risks & benefits of treatment may affect adherence & treatment outcomes
8. Observation of response to treatment is essential to confirm efficacy, prevent, detect, or manage adverse effects. assess adherence & determine the need for dose adjustment or discontinuation of medication therapy
9. avoid IV administration when PO is as effective and safe
10. Consider lifestyle modifications when indicated before medication therapy
11. recognize that medication therapy may cause unwanted effects
12. choose the drug which results in the lowest healthcare cost or is most convenient for the pt when a variety drugs is equally efficacious & safe
13. recognize possible reasons for the failure of medication regimens

Question 16

Explain why using newly approved medications only when there are clear advantages over older medications is a guiding principle of pharmacotherapy

Answer 16

safety issues, more expensive

Question 17

What guiding principle of pharmacotherapy focuses on evidence based medicine?

Answer 17

Select medication regimens based on evidence from controlled clinical trials whenever possible

Question 18

Give an example of simplifying a pt’s medication regiment to enhance their adherence?

Answer 18

Take o.p.d instead of qid

Question 19

Environment, genetics, misdiagnosis, non-adherence, drug interactions, food interactions

Answer 19

Reasons for the failure of medical regimens

Question 20

Describe the recommended approach (steps) to evaluating pharmacotherapy cases.

Answer 20

1. List specific goals of treatment for pt.
2. What nonpharmacological therapy is indicated?
3. What changes in drug therapy would you make? Why?
4. Write a complete prescription for the new therapy.
5. What parameters for monitoring therapy & when should you check them?
   a. therapeutic outcome b. adverse effects
6. Discuss specific pt education based on prescribed therapy
7. If this therapy is ineffective or not tolerated, What is plan B or C?

Question 21

Give example of nonpharmacolgic therapy.

Answer 21

Lifestyle Modifications

- diet, exercise, smoking cessation programs, AA, group counseling, stress management, sleep, yoga,