Week 1

Question 1

What is drug potency?

Answer 1

A term relating to how much of a drug is required to produce an effect of specific intensity.

Question 2

What is drug selectivity?

Answer 2

The ability of a drug to specifically target a particular group of cells.

Question 3

What is drug specificity?

Answer 3

A measure of the number of different mechanisms involved during the action of a drug. Also see non-specificity.

Question 4

Describe the three names given to a drug.

Answer 4

Chemical name: describes the molecular structure of a drug.
Generic name: given to a drug that has received approval.
Trade name: name given by company that creates the drug.

Question 5

How many schedules of drugs and poisons are there?

Answer 5

9

Question 6

Which schedules of drugs are you going to come across as a nurse?

Answer 6

Schedules 2, 3, 4, 8

Question 7

Describe schedules 2,3,4,8 and give two examples of each.

Answer 7

Sc2: drugs bought over the counter and from pharmacy - paracetamol and ibuprofen
Sc3: drugs bought from pharmacy only and with pharmacist advice - salbutamol and pseudoephedrine
Sc4: prescription only - antibiotics and diazepam
Sc8: prescription only and strictly controlled - morphine and fentanyl

Question 8

Other than illicit use, what else can Schedule 9 drugs be used for and give two examples.

Answer 8

Research purposes - cocaine, heroin.

Question 9

What are the two laws in WA that relate to drug administration?

Answer 9

Poisons Act 1964

Poisons Regulations Act 1965

Question 10

What is the longest drug name you have heard?

Answer 10

Paracetamoxyfrusebendroneomycin.