Psychopharmacology

Question 1

What is pharmocology?

Answer 1

The study of drugs including their actions and effects in living systems

Question 2

What is clinical pharmacology?

Answer 2

A branch of pharmacology that uses drugs to treat, prevent and diagnose disease. It addresses two key concerns: What drugs do to the body and how they do it and also how the body affects a specific drug after administration

Question 3

What are the 6 rights of medical administration?

Answer 3

Right patient, right medication, right documentation, right dose, right time, right route, + right reason.

Question 4

What are the two different names a drug will have?

Answer 4

A generic name and a brand name

Question 5

What is pharmacodynamics?

Answer 5

How the drug effects the body

Question 6

What are the 4 ways a drug works?

Answer 6

1. replaces or substitutes missing chemicals
2. Increase/stimulate cellular activity
3. Depress/slow cellular activity
4. Interfere with the functioning of foreign cells

Question 7

What is pharmacokinetics?

Answer 7

The study of absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of drugs

Question 8

What processes can have a major impact on the absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion of drugs?

Answer 8

Infections and diseases processes

Question 9

Understanding pharmacokinetics help nurses to?

Answer 9

Anticipate therapeutic and adverse drug effects and plan appropriate nursing interventions to ensure the safest and most efficient drug regimen for the patient.

Question 10

Where are drugs absorbed in the body?

Answer 10

most absorption occurs in the small intestine

Question 11

What is the most frequently used route of drug administration?

Answer 11

Oral

Question 12

What are some barriers to the absorption of drugs when taken orally?

Answer 12

A large percentage of the oral dose will be destroyed before it reaches the tissues (First pass effect).

Question 13

What is the first pass effect?

Answer 13

The first pass effect is a phenomenon of drug metabolism whereby the concentration of a drug, specifically when administered orally, is greatly reduced before it reaches the systemic circulation.

Question 14

What is the process of distribution?

Answer 14

A reversible transfer of a drug between one location and another in the body.

Question 15

What is metabolism?

Answer 15

Metabolism describes the chemical reactions that change drugs into compounds which are easier to eliminate.

Question 16

What is the most important site for metabolism?

Answer 16

The liver

Question 17

What happens to drugs in the liver?

Answer 17

They are changed into new, less active chemicals by enzymes in the liver

Question 18

Clearance (CL) or excretion is what?

Answer 18

The removal of the drug from the body

Question 19

What are some routes used to excrete/clear drugs?

Answer 19

There are many different routes of excretion, including urine, bile, sweat, saliva, tears, milk, and stool. By far, the most important excretory organs are the kidney and liver.

Question 20

What are the most important organs in drug clearance/excretion?

Answer 20

By far, the most important excretory organs are the kidney and liver.

Question 21

What is the concept of half-life?

Answer 21

The time it takes for the amount of the drug in the body to decrease to one-half of the peak level. For instance, if a patient takes 40mgs of a drug with a half-time of 12 hours, 20mgs of that drug will remain 12 hours after the administration.

Question 22

What are some factors that influence drug effects?

Answer 22

Weight, age, gender, physiological factors, pathological factors, genetic factors, immunological factors, psychological factors, environmental factors, drug tolerance, and cumulation effects (taking the drug wrong).

Question 23

How does weight influence drugs?

Answer 23

The heavier the person generally the more of the drug they will need

Question 24

How does gender influence drug effects?

Answer 24

The physiological differences between men and women.

Question 25

What are physiological factors? And how may this influence drug effects?

Answer 25

Things related to your physical body that affect your thinking. Hydration levels and electrolyte imbalance ect.

Question 26

What are Psychological factors? and how might these influence drug effects?

Answer 26

Psychosocial factors are characteristics or facets that influence an individual psychologically and/or socially. This may be placebo effect or adherence to a drug (attachment)

Question 27

What is an immunological factor for drugs effects?

Answer 27

Allergies

Question 28

Drug tolerance occurs when ...

Answer 28

The initial dose of a substance loses its effectiveness over time because the body has got used to the drug

Question 29

Prior to commencing any drug therapy a patient must have a ?

Answer 29

Full head to toe physical examination and blood tests to determine liver and kidney function

Question 30

What are Antipsychotics used for?

Answer 30

To treat psychotic disorders including schizophrenia and also behavioural/movement disorders with a psychological component (Tourettes Syndrome ect).

Question 31

How do Antipsychotics work?

Answer 31

Antipsychotics block the dopaminergic receptor sites to reduce positive symptoms of psychosis (Theory suggests psychosis is associated with increased activity at these sites).

Question 32

What is a typical antipsychotic? (also reffered as a First gen anti-psychotic)

Answer 32

These are the older medications used to treat psychotic symptoms. They mainly block dopaminergic receptors how ever there is research they affect other neurotransmitter systems leading to a wide range on undesirable side-effects

Question 33

What are Extrapyramidal side-effects?

Answer 33

Extrapyramidal side effects are a group of symptoms that can occur in people taking antipsychotic medications. Such as: Parkinsonian symptoms (tremor), Dystonia, Akathisia, and TD.

Question 34

What are Atypical antipsychotics?

Answer 34

These antipsychotics are a major advance from the typical antipsychotics, they have the same goal although they are more selective in targeting dopamine receptors and also target serotonin receptors. This means they are relatively free from extrapyramidal symptoms

Question 35

What is a major advantage of Atypical antipsychotics?

Answer 35

They suppress negative symptoms

Question 36

What is the biggest problem with atypical anti-psychotics?

Answer 36

There is an increased risk of diabetes and metabolic syndrome

Question 37

What is metabolic syndrome?

Answer 37

A cluster of conditions that increase the risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes

Question 38

What are some common side effects of Atypical antipsychotic medications?

Answer 38

``` Weight Gain Drowsiness Constipation Dizziness Hypersalvation ```

Question 39

What are some fairly common side effects of Atypical antipsychotic medications?

Answer 39

Sexual Dysfunction | Postural hypotension

Question 40

What rare but life-threatening side effect is associated with Clozapine?

Answer 40

Agranulocytosis or Neutropenia - Low white blood count therefore the body is unable to fight infections

Question 41

What rare but life-threatening side effect is associated with all antipsychotics?

Answer 41

Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS) - Occurs in the first few weeks of a drug change, causes spasticity of skeletal muscles (excessive heat generation) and impaired hypothalmic thermoregulation

Question 42

What are the symptoms of Agranulocytosis or Neutropenia to look out for?

Answer 42

Fever, sore throat, infection, cognitive changes.

Question 43

What are the symptoms of Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS) to look out for?

Answer 43

``` Use the acronym FEVER. F- Fever E- Encephalopathy (Altered mental state) V- Vitals unstable E- Elevated enzymes R- Rigidity of muscles ```

Question 44

What are some Atypical anti-psychotic medications?

Answer 44

Olanzapine, Resperidone, Quetiapine, Clozapine, Aripiprazole, and Amisulpride