Pharmacology Class 1 Flashcards
(21 cards)
What severe illness developed in 10 infants in an intermediate care nursery?
A severe, non-specific illness with 1 death
Symptoms included respiratory insufficiency and various other signs.
What were the symptoms observed in the infants with unexplained illness?
- Temperature instability
- Feeding intolerances
- Lethargy
- Pallor
- Apnea
- Bradycardia
- Abdominal distention
- Leukocytosis
- Hypertension
Symptoms required mechanical ventilation.
List the 10 rights of medication administration.
- Drug
- Dose
- Time
- Route
- Patient
- Reason
- Documentation
- Assessment
- Patient education
- Right to refuse
These rights ensure safe medication practices.
Define pharmacology.
The broadest term for the study of the science of drugs
It encompasses various subfields including pharmacokinetics and pharmacotherapeutics.
What is pharmacokinetics?
The study of drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME)
It focuses on how the body affects a drug.
What does ‘off-labeling’ mean?
Medication prescribed for a certain problem but used for something else
Example: Ozempic is used for weight loss despite being approved for type 2 diabetes.
How are drugs classified?
- By structure (e.g., beta-adrenergic blockers)
- By therapeutic use (e.g., antibiotics, antihypertensives, antidepressants)
Classification aids in understanding drug actions and effects.
What is the chemical name of a drug?
Describes the chemical composition and molecular structure of the drug
Example: (+/–)-2-(p-isobutylphenyl) propionic acid.
What is bioavailability in pharmacokinetics?
The extent of drug absorption that enters the bloodstream in active form
It is crucial for determining drug dosage and effectiveness.
What is the first-pass effect?
The process where a drug must go to the liver before it reaches systemic circulation
This can affect the bioavailability of orally administered drugs.
What does metabolism refer to in pharmacokinetics?
The biochemical alteration of a drug into an inactive metabolite or a more soluble compound
The liver is the primary organ responsible for metabolism.
What is enterohepatic recirculation?
The process by which certain drugs are reabsorbed into the bloodstream after being excreted into the bile
This can prolong the presence of drugs in the body.
Define therapeutic drug monitoring.
- Onset
- Peak
- Trough
- Duration
- Therapeutic Level
- Maintenance dose
- Toxicity
These terms help in understanding the pharmacodynamics of drugs.
What is half-life in pharmacology?
The time required for half (50%) of a given drug to be removed from the body
It is crucial for determining the dosing interval.
What are the three ways drugs exert their actions?
- Through receptors
- Through enzymes
- Through nonselective interaction
Understanding these mechanisms is essential for drug action.
What is the role of receptors in drug action?
Molecules that medications bind to initiate effects
Agonists activate receptors, while antagonists block them.
What is a pharmacological reaction?
Any unexpected and undesirable reaction to a drug at therapeutic dosages
This is distinct from hypersensitivity or idiosyncratic reactions.
What considerations should be made for older adults in pharmacotherapy?
- Increased risk of adverse effects
- Polypharmacy
- Possible sensory and motor deficits
- Increased incidence of chronic illness
These factors complicate medication management in older populations.
What are the neonatal and pediatric considerations in pharmacology?
- Gastric pH less acidic
- Slowed gastric emptying
- Immature blood brain barrier
- Kidney immaturity affects drug excretion
These factors impact drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion in children.
True or False: Drugs can cross the placenta during pregnancy.
True
Factors affecting drug safety include properties of the drug and maternal factors.
What factors affect drug absorption in older adults?
- Less acidic gastric pH
- Slowed gastric emptying
- Reduced blood flow to the GI tract
- Reduced absorptive surface
These changes can alter drug bioavailability.
