Ex 2: Pharmacotherapy Flashcards
(35 cards)
Pharmacotherapy
Treatment with prescription drugs to achieve a desired therapeutic objective w/minimum of adverse side effects
Prevalence of Prescription drugs
50% of Americans take at least 1 ; 90% of adults age 60 or older take at least one p-medication; 40% of older Americans take five or more p-med/month
During what time period is the risk of non-adherence the highest?
For the first 6 months
Noadherence
1) not taking medication 2) not taking them correctly
What is the most common reason for non-adherence?
Medication side-effects
Drug
Substance that chemically alters biological function
How many people in the U.S die from adverse drug effects?
150,000/year
How long does it take to develop a drug?
Avg - 12 years ( 7-20 years)
SJS
Stevens Johnson Syndrome: Most severe reaction to drug
SJS symptoms
E: fever, headache, sore throat, itchy eyes 24-72 hours: inflammation and blistering of the eyes and mouth, skin,rash, nausea, and vomiting
TEN
Toxic Epidermal necrolysis: similar to SJS but painful blistering of skin and mucous membrane involvement. involves 30% of total body surface area.
Drugs are usually known by what type of name?
Their Brand “aka” trade name
Indications
The reason for administering a medication or performing a treatment
contraindications
A factor that prevents the use of a medication or treatment
Which routes of drug administration are the quickest?
1) IV 2) Oral 3) subcutaneous
Pharmacokinetics
Time course of drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion
Measure of pharmacokinetics
1) Rate of bioavailability - max concentration in the blood 2) Total exposure of bioavailability- how long drug is active
Acetaminophen
pain and fever; high dosage can cause damage the liver; no alcohol = no problem
NSAIDS
Ibuprofen, naproxen, aspirin = inflammation, pain, and fever; can lead to both kidney and liver damage and cause GI bleeding
pharmacodynamics
The biochemical and physiologic mechanisms of drug action; blood serum levels crucial. Drugs need to be bound to serum albumin. if less than 3.0 g/dL increases drug effect in the body
Explain why patients may have different therapeutic effects among specific generic brands of the same active ingredient.
1) Genetics (different side effects, variation in how drugs are handled, ineffectiveness of a particular drug 2) age, gender, etc 3) different levels of bioavailability.
Therapeutic window
Too little drug has no effect, too much drug has toxicity; (TW = between too much and too little)
Discuss why medication administration is more complicated with pediatric patients and the best mechanism for determining medication dose.
1) higher proportion of water 2) lower plasma proteins 3) immature liver and kidneys
Why are older adults at increased risk for interactions?
1) lower metabolism and excretion 2) multiple medications 3) lack of compliance