Pharmacology Introduction Quiz

Pharmacology Introduction

• Pharmacology is the study of drugs, their properties, effects, and interactions with living organisms.
• Pharmacotherapy is the treatment of disease using drugs
• Drugs are substances that alter physiological function.
• Placebos are inactive substances used as controls in experiments.
• Prototypes are standard examples of drugs within a class, used for comparison.
• Ideal drugs meet efficacy, safety, and convenience criteria.

Ideal Drug Characteristics

• Effectively treats, prevents, or cures the condition.
• Produces a predictable response at low doses.
• Quickly eliminated by the body.
• Can be taken infrequently.
• Affordable and obtainable.
• Administered conveniently.
• Produces no adverse effects.
• Does not interact with other medications or food.

Drug Naming

• Trade names (brand names) are created by drug companies and are easier to remember or pronounce.
• Trade names require FDA approval.
• Generic names are unique, single names per drug, starting with lower case letters.
• Examples of brand names: Viagra, Tylenol, Advil
• Examples of generic names: sildenafil, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, atorvastatin

Drug Classification

• Therapeutic classes describe what condition a drug treats (e.g., Antihypertensives, Antidepressants).
• Pharmacologic classes describe how a drug works (e.g., ACE inhibitors, SSRIs).

Drug Development and Approval

• Drug development involves lab research, pre-clinical research, and clinical trials.
• Clinical trials include safety (Phase 1), effectiveness (Phase 2), patient variability and interactions (Phase 3) phases.
• Government approval and post-marketing surveillance follow.

Controlled Drug Schedules

• Schedule 1 drugs have no accepted medical use and the highest potential for abuse.
• Schedule 2 drugs have accepted medical use and high potential for abuse leading to dependence.
• Examples of Schedule 1 drugs: Heroin, LSD, MDMA
• Examples of Schedule 2 drugs: Oxycodone, Morphine.

Legal Classification of Drugs

• Prescription drugs (Rx) are available only with a doctor's order.
• Over-the-counter (OTC) drugs are available without a prescription.

Pharmacokinetics

• Pharmacokinetics describes how the body handles drugs.
• Bioavailability is the amount of a drug that reaches the bloodstream after administration.
• IV administration generally has the highest bioavailability.
• First-pass effect is the reduction in bioavailability due to drug metabolism in the liver after oral administration.

Routes of Administration

• Enteral (oral) routes include tablets, capsules, or liquid forms.
• Parenteral (injection) routes include IV, IM, subcutaneous.
• Topical routes include transdermal patches, creams, or ointments.

Factors Affecting Drug Absorption

• Route of administration
• Drug solubility
• pH levels
• Presence of food

Adverse Drug Reactions and Side Effects

• Side effects are predictable and expected reactions to a drug taken at therapeutic doses.
• Adverse effects are harmful and undesirable.
• Some adverse reactions could be severe requiring immediate medical attention.

Factors Affecting Drug Metabolism and Excretion

• Age, liver function, and drug interactions can affect how the body metabolizes and excretes drugs.

Medication Error Reduction Strategies

• Knowledge and adherence to safety procedures, like proper identification and scanning of drugs.
• Collaborative approaches from various clinical staff.
• Thorough recording of drug administration and appropriate labeling.

Geriatric Care

• Physiological changes in the elderly can affect drug metabolism and excretion.
• Elderly patients may have reduced kidney and liver function.
• Drug interactions need to be assessed and minimized.

Polypharmacy and Adherence

• Polypharmacy involves taking multiple medications, increasing the risk of side effects and drug-drug interactions.
• Complicated medication regimens reduce patient adherence to treatment.

Beers Criteria

• A list of medications that are associated with increased risks in elderly patients, often due to a potentially negative effect on their health.

Herbal Supplements

• There are risks and benefits when taking herbal supplements. Some can alter how the body handles conventional medications.