Pharmacology Overview Quiz

Overview of Pharmacology

• Pharmacology is the study of drugs, their effects, and the biological impacts of chemical substances.
• It involves the preparation, usage, and effects of drugs.

Branches of Pharmacology

• Pharmacotherapeutics: Focuses on using drugs to treat, prevent, or diagnose diseases.
• Pharmacokinetics: Studies how drugs move within the body.
• Pharmacodynamics: Examines the responses of the body to drugs.
• Toxicokinetics & Toxicodynamics: Explore the movement and effects of toxic substances.

Drug Characteristics

• Drug: A chemical substance used for treatment, cure, prevention, or diagnosis of diseases.
• Excretion routes: Includes gastrointestinal, skin, and respiratory tracts.

Forms of Drugs

• Oral: Taken through the digestive system.
• Inhalation: Administered via the respiratory system.
• Topical: Absorbed through the skin.
• Parenteral: Encompasses injectable forms with 100% absorption.

Biotransformation & Half Life

• Biotransformation: Process of how drugs are metabolized in the body.
• Half-life: The time it takes for the drug concentration to reduce by half, which varies based on dosage (mg).

Pregnancy and Drug Safety

• Drug Categories:
  • Category A: No risk to the fetus.
  • Category B: Minimal risk or no studies conducted.
  • Category C: Risks identified.
  • Category D: Well-documented risks.
  • Category X: Contraindicated in pregnancy.

Desired Drug Properties

• Ideal drugs should be reversible, predictable, inexpensive, simple, and devoid of adverse effects or interactions.

Patient Safety Protocols

• Ensure patient identity and effective communication.
• Implement fall prevention strategies.
• Utilize high-alert medications (HAMS) and minimize look-alike/sound-alike medications (LASA).

Goals of Pharmacology

• Harness natural sources (plants, animals, inorganic) and synthetic sources for drug development.
• Aim for drug safety, effectiveness, and selectivity.

Drug Evaluation Process

• Preclinical Trials: Attack efficacy and safety through testing on animals prior to human trials.

Rights of Medication Administration

• Rights include ensuring the correct patient, dose, route, medication, and timing.

Adverse Effects of Drugs

• Primary Effects: The intended therapeutic outcomes.
• Secondary Effects: A variety of unintended effects.
• Hypersensitivity: Exaggerated responses to the drug.

Regulatory Framework

• Republic Act 2382: Authorizes only physicians to prescribe medications.
• Republic Act 5921 (Pharmacy Law): Permits only registered pharmacists to dispense and sell medications.

Measurement Systems

• Metric System: Legal standard of measurement for drug dosages.
• Apothecary System: A historical system based on weights for measuring medications.