NURS 251 - Pharmacology - Test 1 Latest Updates 2024/2025
Drug Names include –
1. Chemical Name
2.Describe the chemical composition and molecular structure
3.Generic name - nonproprietary name
4. Trade name - Owned by the producing company.
Pharmacology - Study of chemicals that alter the function of living
organisms.
Drugs can be used to: - 1. Prevent disease
2.Diagnose Disease
3.Cure disease
4. Treat symptoms of disease
Classification of drugs based on similarities of properties - 1. Structure - e.g.
beta blockers
2. Use - e.g. antibiotics
Pharmaceutics - Study of how various dosage forms influence how the
drug effects the body.
Pharmakinetics - Study of what the body does to the drug.
1. What happens to the drug when it is taken.
2.Depends on how long drug is in the system.
Pharmadynamics - Study of what the drug does to the body.
Dissolution - When taken, how does it appear in the digestive tract.
Purpose of enteric coating on pill - Prevents digestion of drug in stomach so
that it can move to the small intestine where it will be broken down and
digested.
SR - Sustained Release - longer acting drug.
SA - Sustained Action
CR - Controlled release
XL - Extended length
XT - Extended time
,First pass effect - How much the drug is metabolized by the liver before
reaching systemic circulation.
Large first pass effect means - 1. much of the drug is removed by the
liver, does not get to systemic circulation.
2. More must be taken orally than if by I.V.
Enteral drug administration - 1. PO - by mouth
2.Sublingual
3.Buccal - cheek
4. Rectal
Parenteral drug administration - 1. IV (fastest)
2.SC or sub q
3.IM - erratic uptake
4 less common routes for drug administration. - 1. Inter-arterial
2.Intra-thecal - Spinal area
3.Intra-articular - Into joints.
4. Epidural
Topical application of drugs - Transdermal, inhalation, Eye and Ear drops,
suppositories
Drugs in circulation are delivered to - the first areas with extensive blood
supplies.
Distribution of drugs through the blood stream depends on - 1. Adequate
circulation
2. Protein binding (albumin)
Most drug molecules bind to what in circulation - Protein - albumin
Drugs bound to albumin are - 1. inactive.
2. will last longer in circulation.
If a patient has low albumin due to malnutrition - there will be more free
and active drug, increasing toxicity.
Blood brain Barrier - Keeps drugs from crossing over to the brain.
Pregnancy - Most drugs cross the placenta and effect the fetus.
Metabolism - Biotransformation changes drugs into inactive, soluble
metabolites that are then excreted.
, Organ most responsible for metabolism of drugs - Liver
Other organs responsible for metabolism of drugs - Skeletal muscle, kidneys,
lungs, intestinal mucosa
Enzyme that helps metabolize drugs by targeting lipid soluble drugs - P-450
enzyme
P-450 enzym - 1. Targets lipid soluble drugs
2. Most drugs are lipid soluble to help with the movement of drugs across
cell membranes.
Enzyme induction - Drugs stimulate metabolism and can cause decreased
pharmacological effects.
Enzyme inhibition - Concurrent administration of 2 or more drugs that
compete for the same metabolizing enzymes. Can lead to drug toxicity.
Excretion of drugs - Elimination of drug from the body usually by kidney
as water soluble inactive metabolites.
Liver metabolism - Metabolizes drugs to water soluble metabolites for
excretion by the kidneys.
How many half lives required for most drugs to be considered removed from
the body
- 5 half lives
Serum Drug Level - Measurement of a drug at a particular point in time.
Drug onset - time required to elicit a therapeutic response.
Drug Peak Level - The time for the drug to reach maximum therapeutic
response.
Drug duration - Length of time the drug level is sufficient to be therapeutic.
Trough - Lowest drug level of the drug in the body.
Toxicity - If the peak level is too high.
Pharmacodynamics involves - 1. The drug actions of target cells.
2. The resulting alterations of cellular biochemical reactions and functions.
Therapeutic Effect - A positive change in a faulty physiological system. Goal
of therapy.
Drug receptor interaction - the joining of the drug molecule with the reactive
site.
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