CH #30: Medications

Question 1

process by which drugs are transferred from the site of entry into the body to the bloodstream

Answer 1

absorption

Question 2

undesirable effects other than the intended therapeutic effect of a drug

Answer 2

adverse drug reactions (ADRs)

Question 3

immune system response that occurs when the body interprets an administered drug as a foreign substance and forms antibodies against the drug

Answer 3

allergic effect

Question 4

glass flask containing a single dose of medication for parenteral administration

Answer 4

ampule

Question 5

severe reaction occurring immediately after exposure to a drug; characterized by respiratory distress and vascular collapse

Answer 5

anaphylactic reaction (anaphylaxis)

Question 6

the portion of a drug that reaches the systemic circulation and can act on the cells

Answer 6

bioavailability

Question 7

movement of drugs by the circulatory system to the site of action

Answer 7

distribution

Question 8

tendency of the body to become accustomed to a drug over time; larger doses are required to produce the desired effects

Answer 8

drug tolerance

Question 9

study of the effect of ethnicity on responses to prescribed medication, especially drug absorption, metabolism, distribution, and excretion

Answer 9

ethnopharmacology

Question 10

removal of a drug from the body

Answer 10

excretion

Question 11

name assigned by the manufacturer who first develops a drug; it is often derived from the chemical name

Answer 11

generic name

Question 12

the amount of time it takes for half a dose of a drug to be eliminated from the body

Answer 12

half-life

Question 13

unusual, unexpected response to a drug that may manifest itself by overresponse, underresponse, or response different from the expected outcome

Answer 13

idiosyncratic effect

Question 14

administration of a drug in solution via the respiratory tract

Answer 14

inhalation

Question 15

injection placed just below the epidermis

Answer 15

intradermal injections

Question 16

deliver meds through the skin & subcutaneous tissue into certain muscles

Answer 16

intramuscular injections

Question 17

the most dangerous route of administration because the drug is placed directly into the bloodstream, it cannot be recalled, and its actions cannot be slowed; used in most emergency situations when immediate onset of action is required

Answer 17

intravenous route

Question 18

process of creating an accurate list of all meds a patient is taking, including drug name, dosage, frequency, and route, and comparing the list to the physician’s admission, transfer, or discharge orders, with the goal of providing correct meds to the patient at all transition points within the hospital

Answer 18

med reconciliation

Question 19

breakdown of a drug to an inactive form; also referred to as biotransformation

Answer 19

metabolism

Question 20

outside of intestines or alimentary canal; popularly used to refer to injection routes

Answer 20

parenteral

Question 21

highest plasma concentration of a drug

Answer 21

peak level

Question 22

process by which drugs alter cell physiology and affect the body

Answer 22

pharmacodynamics

Question 23

the study of how genetic variation affects an individual’s response to drugs

Answer 23

pharmacogenetics

Question 24

movement of drug molecules in the body in relation to the drug’s absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion

Answer 24

pharmacokinetics

Question 25

study of actions of chemicals on living organisms

Answer 25

pharmacology

Question 26

dynamic that achieves the desired therapeutic effect of the drug without causing other undesirable effects

Answer 26

pharmacotherapeutics

Question 27

a patient with an intravenous line in place can receive a solution containing the med but requires the intermittent or additive solution to be placed higher than the primary solution; med is administered via secondary IV tubing connected to primary tubing

Answer 27

piggyback delivery system

Question 28

Latin word meaning “I shall please”; an inactive substance that gives satisfaction to the person using it

Answer 28

placebo

Question 29

“as needed” order for meds

Answer 29

PRN order

Question 30

single order carried out immediately

Answer 30

stat order

Question 31

injection into the subcutaneous tissue that lies between the epidermis and the muscle

Answer 31

subcutaneous injections

Question 32

a treatable mental disorder that affects a person’s brain and behavior, leading to their inability to control their use of substances like legal or illegal drugs, alcohol, or meds

Answer 32

substance use disorder

Question 33

combined effect of 2 or more drugs is greater than the effect of each drug alone

Answer 33

synergist effect

Question 34

known to have potential to cause developmental defects in the embryo or fetus

Answer 34

teratogenic

Question 35

the concentration of drug in the blood serum that produces the desired effect without causing toxicity

Answer 35

therapeutic range

Question 36

application of a substance directly to a body surface

Answer 36

topical applications

Question 37

specific group of symptoms related to drug therapy that carry risk for permanent damage or death

Answer 37

toxic effects

Question 38

drug name selected and trademarked by the company marketing the drug; also called brand name or proprietary name

Answer 38

trade name

Question 39

the point when a drug is at its lowest concentration

Answer 39

trough level

Question 40

glass bottle with self-sealing stopper through which medication is removed; may be single or multiple dose

Answer 40

vial

Question 41

recommended for all intramuscular injections (particularly nonvaccine injections) to ensure that med does not leak back along the needle track and into the subcutaneous tissue; reduces pain & discomfort particularly for patients receiving injections over an extended period

Answer 41

Z-track technique