Fundamental Concepts of Pharmacology

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Questions and Answers

What is pharmacology?

The study of interaction of drugs with living organisms.

What does the term 'prescriber' refer to?

Any health care professional licensed to prescribe medications.

Which of the following is not one of the six elements a prescriber must check?

Medical history (correct)

Patient's name

Prescriber's signature

Date drug order was written

Define medication error.

Any preventable adverse drug event involving inappropriate medication use. Signup and view all the answers

What is an adverse effect?

Any undesirable effect directly linked to one or more drugs. Signup and view all the answers

What does an allergic reaction refer to?

An immunologic hypersensitivity reaction to a medication. Signup and view all the answers

Additive effects occur when the total effect of two or more drugs is less than the sum of their individual effects.

False Signup and view all the answers

What restricts the passage of certain chemicals between the bloodstream and the central nervous system?

Blood-brain barrier. Signup and view all the answers

What is a contraindication?

Any condition that renders a particular treatment improper or undesirable. Signup and view all the answers

What is the process called by which solid forms of drugs disintegrate in the gastrointestinal tract?

Dissolution. Signup and view all the answers

What does drug-induced teratogenesis refer to?

Development of congenital anomalies due to drug toxicity. Signup and view all the answers

What is the first-pass effect?

The initial metabolism of a drug in the liver before it reaches systemic circulation. Signup and view all the answers

Define half-life in pharmacokinetics.

The time required for half of an administered dose of drug to be eliminated by the body. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes an idiosyncratic reaction?

An unexpected response peculiar to an individual. Signup and view all the answers

What does intraarterial mean?

Within an artery. Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by incompatibility in pharmacology?

A reaction that causes chemical deterioration of drugs when mixed. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Fundamental Concepts of Pharmacology

Pharmacology encompasses the study of drug interactions with living organisms, including drug history, sources, physicochemical properties, and dosage forms.
It covers processes such as drug absorption, distribution, mechanism of action, biotransformation, excretion, clinical uses, and adverse effects.

Definitions and Terminology

Pharmaco- refers to "drug" or "medicine."
Variants include dynamics, genomics, gnosy, and kinetics.
A prescriber is a licensed healthcare professional authorized to prescribe medications.

Six Elements for Prescribing

Patient's name must be included.
Date the drug order was written is required.
The specific drugs prescribed must be listed.
Dosage amount and frequency are crucial components.
Route of administration should be specified.
Prescriber's signature is necessary.

Medication Errors and Adverse Effects

Medication error refers to any preventable adverse drug event associated with inappropriate medication use.
Adverse effects are undesirable reactions directly resulting from drug usage.
Allergic reactions represent immunologic hypersensitivity to a drug.

Drug Interactions and Effects

Additive effects occur when drugs with similar actions combine to produce their effects equal to the sum of the individual drugs' effects.
Drug interactions alter the pharmacologic or pharmacokinetic activity due to the presence of additional drugs, often affecting metabolic enzymes.
Drug effects include both therapeutic and toxic reactions, often described in terms of onset, peak, and duration.

Drug Properties and Pharmacokinetics

Chemical name describes a drug’s molecular structure and composition.
Blood-brain barrier restricts the passage of substances between the bloodstream and the central nervous system.
Dissolution is the process of drug solid forms breaking down in the gastrointestinal tract for absorption.
Duration of action refers to how long a drug concentration remains sufficient to elicit a response.

Pharmacology Terms

The first-pass effect refers to initial liver metabolism of a drug before it reaches systemic circulation.
A generic name is a simpler, nonproprietary name for a drug, not protected by trademark.
Half-life is the time required for half of a drug dose to be eliminated from the body.

Reactions and Injections

Idiosyncratic reaction describes an unusual and unexpected response to medication, distinct from allergic reactions.
Intraarterial refers to procedures or injections within an artery.
Incompatibility indicates a reaction when two parenteral drugs are mixed, possibly leading to chemical deterioration.

Injection Types

Intraarticular refers to injections within a joint.
Intrathecal denotes administration within a sheath, such as an injection into the spinal cord's subarachnoid space.

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Description

This quiz covers essential pharmacological concepts including drug interactions, dosage forms, and the processes involved in drug action and administration. It also highlights key terminology and the critical elements necessary for prescribing medications safely. Test your knowledge on medication errors and their impact on clinical practice.