Questions and Answers
What is the primary purpose of absorption in pharmacology?
Which factor does not affect drug absorption?
Which is true about the first-pass effect?
In what phase of drug action does dissolution occur?
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What does bioavailability refer to in pharmacology?
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Which of the following is not considered when evaluating drug absorption?
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During disintegration, what happens to a drug?
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Which of the following factors can enhance drug absorption?
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What is the purpose of a loading dose in pharmacodynamics?
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What does the therapeutic index (TI) measure?
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Which of the following best defines 'adverse reactions'?
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What does a peak drug level indicate?
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Which of the following substances is classified as a controlled substance?
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What does 'tachyphylaxis' refer to in a pharmacological context?
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What is meant by 'trough level' in pharmacodynamics?
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Which factor is NOT considered in the dose-response relationship?
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What defines the pharmacokinetic phase of a drug?
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What is the primary organ responsible for drug metabolism?
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Which statement regarding drug excretion is true?
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What accurately describes agonists in pharmacodynamics?
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Which factor influences the half-life of a drug?
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What characterizes nonselective drugs?
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What does the term 'peak action' refer to in pharmacokinetics?
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What describes a primary effect of a drug?
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What is a key characteristic of generic drugs?
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Which of the following is true regarding orphan drugs?
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What factor can influence drug response according to pharmacogenetics?
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What should be monitored when giving drugs that are highly protein bound?
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What is a recommended action before ingesting an enteric-coated tablet?
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Which pharmacokinetic process involves the removal of the drug from the body?
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What is a critical nursing implication when monitoring drugs with a narrow therapeutic range?
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What dictates the cost difference between brand-name drugs and generic drugs?
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Study Notes
Pharmacology Overview
- Pharmacology is a branch of biomedical science focused on the effects of drugs and xenobiotics on living systems.
- Pharmaceutical drugs aim to treat, cure, prevent, or diagnose diseases and promote well-being.
Four Processes in Pharmacology
- Absorption: Movement of drugs from the gastrointestinal (GI) tract to body fluids; relies on factors like lipid/water solubility, ionization, and presence of food.
- Distribution: Movement of drugs to body fluids and tissues; only free (unbound) drugs exert pharmacologic effects.
- Metabolism: Primarily occurs in the liver, converting lipid-soluble drugs to water-soluble forms for excretion; involves processes like the half-life calculation.
- Excretion: Mainly through the kidneys; factors affecting this process include urine pH and kidney health.
Phases of Drug Action
- Pharmaceutic Phase: Transition of solid drugs (tablets/capsules) through disintegration and dissolution into smaller particles for absorption.
- Pharmacokinetic Phase: Describes drug movement through absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination.
- Pharmacodynamic Phase: Examines the drug's effects on the body; includes agonists (activate receptors) and antagonists (block receptors).
Key Terms and Concepts
- First-Pass Effect: Initial metabolism of a drug in the liver, potentially reducing its bioavailability.
- Bioavailability: Percentage of unchanged drug reaching systemic circulation; influenced by drug form, route, and metabolic factors.
- Therapeutic Index (TI): Ratio of effective dose to lethal dose; a lower TI indicates higher toxicity risk.
- Peak and Trough Levels: Peak indicates the highest concentration after administration; trough measures the lowest concentration before the next dose.
Drug Effects
- Side Effects: Physiologic effects not directly related to therapeutic action; can be desirable or undesirable.
- Adverse Reactions: More severe effects that can be harmful, including life-threatening conditions like anaphylaxis.
- Tachyphylaxis: Decreased response to a drug following repeated administration, indicating tolerance.
Drug Legislation and Types
- Controlled Substances: Drugs regulated by law due to abuse potential, including opioids and stimulants; require prescriptions for use.
- Generic Drugs: Medications chemically identical to brand-name drugs but generally less expensive; marketed without brand names.
- Orphan Drugs: Medications developed for rare diseases, often financially unviable without government support.
Nursing Implications
- Liquid medications are absorbed more rapidly than solid forms.
- Monitor for drug toxicity, especially with highly protein-bound medications.
- Assess for nonspecific side effects and manage high-risk drugs with narrow therapeutic ranges.
- Advise patients on dietary considerations that may affect drug absorption (e.g., avoiding fatty foods with enteric-coated tablets).
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Description
Explore the fundamentals of pharmacology, including its key processes such as absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of drugs. This quiz delves into both the mechanisms of drug action and the phases involved in pharmacological treatments.
