Vocabulary Flashcards
Pharmacology
The study of the biochemical and physiologic effects of medications.
Generic Names
Abbreviated version of the drug’s chemical name that is non-proprietary and always written in lowercase.
Trade Name
The name for a medication created by pharmaceutical companies that is considered a brand name and always starts with a capitol letter.
Pharmacokinetics
The movement of a drug throughout the body (how the body acts on a medication).
Absorption
The movement of a drug from the site of administration, into the bloodstream, and transportation throughout the body.
Passive Transport
The transportation of a medication across a cell’s membrane by simply passing through the cell’s membrane.
Carrier-Mediated Facilitated Diffusion
The transportation of a medication across a cell’s membrane via a second molecule that carries the drug molecule.
Active Transport
The transportation of a medication across a cell’s membrane via the assistance of a another molecule.
Saturable Process
A process of molecule transportation in which the extracellular concentration of a medication will eventually reach a point at which increasing the concentration of the medication will no longer result in an increase of the rate of transportation of the drug into the cell.
Enteral Administration
A pathway of medication administration in which the medication is absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract and is subject to first-pass metabolism.
(Orally, Buccally, Sublingually, or Rectally)
Parenteral Administration
A pathway of medication administration that bypasses the gastrointestinal tract and circulates the body within minutes.
(Intravenously, Interossiously, Intramuscularly, Intranasally, Subcutaneously, Topically, Intraocularly, and via Inhalation)
First-Pass Metabolism
When enteral medications FIRST PASS through the liver before being distributed throughout the body partly metabolizing the medication and decreasing the amount of medication that will be distributed throughout the body.
Distribution
The transportation of the drug through the bloodstream to various tissues in the body then ultimately to the target site.
Lipophilic
The tendency to combine with or dissolve in lipids (fats).
Hydrophilic
Having a tendency to mix with or dissolve in water.
Volume of Distribution
The amount of body fluids required for the drug to be distributed equally throughout the body (the space the drug occupies in the body).
Bioavailability
The percentage (or fraction) of an administered dose of a medication that reaches systemic circulation.
Duration of Action
The amount of time an effect of a drug remains measurable.
Onset of Action (Latent Period)
The time from the administration of a drug until the drug exerts an observable, specific effect or response.
Half-Life
The mid-point between the highest concentration and the lowest effective concentration of a medication. The time required for the concentration of a medication to decrease by half.
Dose-Response Relationship
The correspondence between the amount of a drug and the magnitude of the effect produced.
Loading Dose
Rapid, therapeutic concentration of a medication delivered in the first of consecutive doses to reach the desired serum concentration and volume of distribution to then be maintained by maintenance doses.
Lethal Dose 50 (LD50)
The administration or effects of an administered medication were fatal in 50% of the animals tested.
Effective Dose 50 (ED50)
The effects of an administered medication were effective in 50% of the animals tested.
Therapeutic Index
The safety rating of a medication by dividing the LD50 by the ED50. A score of greater than 10 equals a good safety profile.
Metabolism
The breakdown and change of a drug by various chemical reactions throughout the body to create compounds that are more easily excreted.
Biotransformation
Changes made to the chemical structure of many types of drugs.
Cytochrome P450
Enzymes in the liver that enzymatically convert lipid-soluble compounds into more water-soluble compounds.
Monoamine Oxidase
An enzyme that catalyzes the oxidation and inactivation of monoamine neurotransmitters.
Depot Binding
The binding of drug molecules with inactive sites in the body making the drug inaccessible for metabolism.
Excretion
The process of eliminating or expelling waste matter.
First-Order Elimination
A mechanism of clearance in which a constant amount of a drug is eliminated per unit of time.
Zero-Order Elimination
A mechanism of clearance in which a drug undergoes a constant process of elimination regardless of the plasma concentration of the drug.
Pharmacodynamics
The study of a drug’s molecular, biochemical, and physiologic effects or actions on the body.
Direct Effects
A mechanism of drug action in which the result of a drug interacting with a receptor enzyme is central to the pathway of that effect.
Indirect Effects
A mechanism of drug action in which the result of a drug interacting with receptor proteins of other biologic structures are significantly upstream from the end biochemical process that produces the drug effect.
Immediate Effects
A mechanism of drug action in which the effects of the drug are immediate after administration.
Delayed Effects
A mechanism of drug action in which the effects of the drug are delayed after administration.
Spare Receptors
Receptors that exist in excess of those required to produce a full effect of a medication.
Acetylcholine Receptors
A membrane protein that responds to the binding of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter.
Muscarinic Receptors
Acetylcholine receptors that form G protein-coupled receptor complexes in the cell membranes of the parasympathetic nervous system. When muscarinic receptors are activated by acetylcholine, a parasympathetic response follows.
Nicotinic Receptors
Acetylcholine receptors in the cell membranes of the sympathetic nervous system.
Steroid Receptor
A class of molecules that function as both a receptor that converts physical energy into electric voltage, or current, and one that passes an impulse from one place to another.
Catecholamines
Dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine that act as both neurotransmitters and hormones to maintain homeostasis through the autonomic nervous system with affinity for adrenergic receptors.
Agonist
Drugs with both affinity (ability to bind to the target receptor) and intrinsic efficacy (produce a response by changing receptor activity).
Partial Agonist
Drugs that reduce the efficacy of other agonist chemicals.
Antagonist
Drugs that bind to a receptor either on the primary site or on another site which stops the receptor from producing a response all together.
Drug-Enzyme Interactions
Drugs bind enzymes and cause change in their activity.
Non-Specific Drug Binding
Binding at molecular sites not designed as receptors which prohibit the drug from binding to the actual receptor, therefore inactivating the drug.
Affinity
A measure of how avidly a drug binds to a receptor.
Efficacy
A measure of the magnitude of the effect once the drug is bound.
Potency
A measure of the quantity of the drug needed to produce the maximal effect.
Potentiation
When one drug does not elicit a response to another drug
Addivity
When the effect of two drugs given in combination equals the mathematical summation of their effects when given alone.
Synergism
When the combined effect of two drugs is greater than the sum of their effects when given separately.
FDA Categorization of Drugs for Use in Pregnancy - A
The medication has been well-studied and have proven no risk.
FDA Categorization of Drugs for Use in Pregnancy - B
Studies have not shown a risk but there are no well-controlled studies that back up the medication’s safety for use in pregnant patients.
FDA Categorization of Drugs for Use in Pregnancy - C
There have been some adverse effects noted through animal studies but the benefits of administering the medication outweigh the risks.
FDA Categorization of Drugs for Use in Pregnancy - D
There are documented human risks associated with administration of the medication, however, only under life-saving circumstances, it may be administered.
FDA Categorization of Drugs for Use in Pregnancy - X
NEVER ADMINISTER THIS MEDICATION
Adrenergic Receptors
Receptors on the surface of cells that get activated when they bind a type of neurotransmitter called a catecholamine.
Alpha 1
Receptors located in the peripheral blood vessels that bind catecholamines (epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine) leading to decreased blood flow, vasoconstriction and decreased perfusion by diverting blood flow to more vital structures.
Alpha 2
Receptors found on the presynaptic (sending nerve) terminals of postganglionic neurons that inhibit further release of dopamine by binding with dopamine (a negative feedback system).
Beta 1
Receptors found in the heart that increase heart rate and contractility.
Beta 2
Receptors found in the lungs, gastrointestinal tract, bladder, uterus, pancreas, and blood vessels that produce smooth muscle relaxation.
Right Patient
Is this the patient of which you intend to administer this medication?
Right Medication
Is this the medication you intend to give? Is this the correct drug for the correct reason?
Right Indication
Why are you giving this medication?
Right Dose
Is this the correct dose, concentration, volume, route, and rate of administration?
Right Route
Is the ordered route of administration appropriate for this patient?
Right Time
What is the push-rate of this medication? How long will this medication take before it acts on the body? Will there be negative interactions with other drugs that need to be administered?
Right Education/Right to Refuse
Did you tell the patient what you are giving them and why?
Right Assessment
Did you ask about allergies? Has the patient ever had this medication before? What happened when they last took it? Did you check for contraindications?
Right Response
Did you take vitals before and after administration of this medication? How did the medication affect the patient? Was there an appropriate response? Were the effects of the medication the desired effects?
Right Documentation
Did you document the medication, dose, time of administration, and the changes in the patient’s condition? Did you pass along this information in your verbal hand-off to the ED?
