Exam 4 Flashcards
(35 cards)
What is the peak level of a drug?
The highest level of drug concentration that is in the blood or plasma of a patient
What is the therapeutic level of a drug?
The range of levels of the drug in the blood that will produce the desired effect without causing toxic effects
What is the trough level of a drug?
lowest level of drug concentration in a patient
What is the half life of a drug?
The time it takes excretion to lower the drug concentration by half
What is the duration of action of a drug?
The length of time the drug is effective
Drug standards and manufacturers
They must meet these standards in five areas in order for it to pass FDA approval and marketed:
Purity: Types and concentrations of substances other than the drug. that can be in the tablet, capsule, suspension, or other form of drug
Potency: The amount of active drug in the preparation
Bioavailability: The drugs ability to dissolve, be absorbed, and transported in the body to its desired action of site
Efficacy: Laboratory studies providing proof that the drug is effective for it’s intended use.
Safety: Studies that show the potential side effects, adverse effects and toxic reactions. Safety is determined from data.
What is pharmacotherapeutics?
Treatment of health conditions by using medications (drugs)
What is Pharmacodynamics?
The study of a drug’s effect on cellular physiology and biochemistry and it’s mechanism of action
What is pharmacokinetics?
The study of how drugs enter the body and reach their site of action, how they are metabolized and excreted
What is the Z track injection and how to do it?
Used for IM injections to prevent medication from leaking upwards.
Pull skin back, insert needle, remove skin
Intradermal injections
Injections that enter in the dermis layer of the skin
Classifications of medication
Groups of medication that are classified by action
Circulatory system and Heart:
Anticoagulants
Antihypertensives
Diuretics
Excretion of medications
The removal of drugs from the body
Where are medications metabolized?
The liver
Trade name of a medication
Name protected by a trademark. Will have a small R by it’s name and it’s capitalized
Generic name of a medication
Name not protected by a trademark. Usually the longer name in lowercase letters
Chemical name of a drug
Describes the chemical composition of the drug
Routes of drug administration
Oral Routes:
PO- by mouth and swallowed with fluid
SL- under the tongue
Buccal- on the cheek
Parenteral Routes:
ID- injected in the dermis
SQ- injected in the subcutaneous layer
IM- injected in the muscular layer
IV- injected in the vein
Epidural- injected in the epidural space of the spinal column
Skin:
Topical- applied to the skin
Transdermal- applied to the skin
Mucous Membranes:
Vaginal- inserted in the vagina
Rectal- inserted in the rectum
Inhalation- inhaled in the nose or lungs
Routes for parental medication administration
Intradermal
Subcutaneous
Intramuscular
Intravenous
Epidural
Metered dose inhalers
Abbreviations and symbols used in medication orders
Ac: before meals
Pc: after meals
PRN or prn: as needed
STAT or stat: immediately
Medication reconciliation process
The process of reviewing the patients complete medication regimen at admission, transfer, and discharge and comparing it with the new regimen
High alert medications
Medication administration process
Make sure you check the six rights before administering
