Pharmacology: Drug Absorption and Therapeutic Effects Quiz

Pharmacology Basics

• The time interval from drug administration to therapeutic effects is called the lag time.
• Peak concentration level is the maximum blood concentration level achieved through absorption.
• Duration of action is the length of time a drug produces its therapeutic effect.
• Bioavailability is the percentage of a drug absorbed into systemic circulation for activity.

Drug Schedules

• There are five schedules of controlled substances, classified based on their potential for abuse and physical/psychological dependence:
  • Schedule I: Highest risk for abuse
  • Schedule II: High potential for abuse, may lead to physical and psychological dependence
  • Schedule III: Lesser abuse potential
  • Schedule IV: Least abuse potential

Assessment for Drug Administration

• Determine food or drug allergies
• Obtain a drug history
• Obtain a medical history
• Perform a physical examination

Actions of Drugs on the Body

• Half-life is the time interval for the body's elimination process to reduce the concentration of the drug in the body by half.
• Glomerular filtration and tubular secretion affect drug excretion.
• Drugs can affect the elimination of other drugs.

Physiologic Changes Associated with Aging

• Altered memory
• Less acute vision
• Decreased renal function, resulting in slower elimination of drugs
• Less complete and slower absorption from the gastrointestinal tract
• Increased proportion of fat to lean body mass, facilitating retention of fat-soluble drugs and increasing potential for toxicity
• Decreased liver function, hindering biotransformation of drugs
• Decreased organ sensitivity, leading to underresponse to drugs
• Altered quality of organ responsiveness, resulting in adverse effects becoming pronounced before therapeutic effects are achieved

Factors that Determine Proper Dosing Schedules

• Route of administration affects bioavailability
• Onset of action depends on drug concentration and route of administration
• Dosage form affects drug release and absorption
• Distribution is the transport of a drug from its site of absorption to its site of action

Plasma-Protein Binding and Volume Distribution

• Medications bind to plasma proteins (albumin) in the vascular system
• Strong attachments have a longer period of drug action
• Clients with reduced plasma proteins may receive a heightened drug effect
• Volume distribution is affected by edema or dehydration
• Barriers to drug distribution include the blood-brain barrier and placental barrier
• Obesity affects drug distribution due to slow blood flow through fat

Test your knowledge on drug absorption and therapeutic effects in pharmacology. Explore concepts such as time interval from administration to therapeutic effects, peak concentration level, duration of action, and bioavailability.