Pharmacodynamics and Pharmacokinetics: Drug Nomenclature

Types of Bonds and Molecular Interactions

• Weakest bond type is ionic bonds; they are generally less strong compared to covalent or hydrogen bonds.
• Agonist molecules form bonds with receptors to trigger biological responses.

Drug-Receptor Complex and Receptors

• Strength of a drug-receptor complex is determined by factors like affinity and efficacy.
• Cell membrane receptors include G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) and ion channel receptors.

Therapeutic Responses and Blockers

• Agonist molecules interact with receptors to yield therapeutic effects.
• Antagonists bind to receptor sites to inhibit or block biological responses.

Unit-Dose System Purpose and Benefits

• Color-coding in unit-dose systems helps with easy identification and organization of medications.
• Benefits to nursing personnel include reduced medication errors and improved patient safety.

Pharmacist Roles in Medication Profiles

• Pharmacists maintain patient medication profiles in unit-dose systems for tracking and avoiding interactions.
• Unit-dose packaging simplifies drug counting, reducing the chance of error.

Responsibilities and Waste Reduction

• Nurses are responsible for verifying medications and calculating dosages in the unit-dose system.
• The unit-dose system minimizes waste and misappropriation due to precise dosage packaging.

Official Drug Terminology and Pharmacological Terms

• Official name of a drug is known as its generic name.
• The term "pharmacology" derives from Greek words meaning 'poison' and 'study.'

Key Focus Areas in Pharmacology

• Pharmacodynamics studies drug effects and mechanisms of action.
• Drug action describes the interaction between a drug and its biological target.

Chemical Bonds and Pharmacology

• Ligand-receptor relationships in drug actions primarily involve non-covalent bonds.
• Pharmacokinetics focuses on drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME).

Unit-Dose Drug Distribution

• Each unit-dose package includes essential information such as dosage and administration instructions.
• Individual unit doses are typically stored in specific locations designated for each patient.

Differences in Long-Term vs. Acute Care

• Long-term care unit-dose systems differ from acute care by offering greater customization for chronic medications.
• Pharmacists in long-term care coordinate medication management tailored to residents' needs.

Storage and Filling in Long-Term Care

• Individualized containers for medications may be stored in a designated area to enhance accessibility.
• Unit-dose systems utilize a just-in-time approach for filling each required dose as orders are placed.

Pharmacokinetics Processes and Interactions

• Key physiological processes involved in pharmacokinetics are absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion.
• Mixing probenecid with ampicillin can lead to altered drug effectiveness or toxicity if administered improperly.
• The pharmacokinetic half-life refers to the duration needed for drug concentration in the bloodstream to reduce by 50%.

Drug Mixing and Distribution

• The process of absorption involves drug movement from the administration site into systemic circulation.
• Mixing ampicillin with gentamicin can result in drug incompatibility and therapeutic failure.
• Drug distribution in pharmacokinetics refers to how a drug disperses throughout the body's compartments after absorption.