Pharmacology Revision Cards

Pharmacology Revision Cards

• Pharmacology is the study of drugs, their effects on living organisms, and how they interact with biological systems.
• Focus areas include drug actions, therapeutic effects, side effects, drug interactions, and new medication development.
• Drug classification can be therapeutic (based on effects), pharmacologic (mechanism of action), or chemical (based on structure).
• Routes of drug administration include oral (PO), intravenous (IV), intramuscular (IM), subcutaneous (SC), topical, and inhalation.
• Receptors are protein molecules where drugs bind to produce effects.
• Agonists activate receptors, antagonists block them, and partial agonists produce a submaximal response.
• The therapeutic index is the ratio of toxic dose (TD50) to therapeutic dose (ED50), indicating a drug's safety.
• Side effects are predictable, often non-harmful effects, while adverse reactions are unintended harmful effects requiring dose adjustment.
• Allergic reactions involve immune responses causing symptoms like rashes or swelling.
• Pharmacokinetic interactions alter drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, or excretion.
• Pharmacodynamic interactions involve one drug enhancing or inhibiting another's effect at the receptor level.

Pharmacokinetics Revision Cards

• Pharmacokinetics studies how the body absorbs, distributes, metabolizes, and excretes drugs.
• Absorption is the process by which a drug enters the bloodstream.
• Factors affecting absorption include route of administration, solubility (lipid-soluble drugs cross membranes easily), and blood flow.
• Bioavailability is the fraction of a drug dose reaching systemic circulation.
• IV administration has 100% bioavailability and oral administration has less than 100% due to first-pass liver metabolism.
• Distribution is the process of transporting a drug throughout the body to its site of action.
• Factors influencing distribution include blood flow, plasma protein binding, and tissue affinity.
• Metabolism is the chemical alteration of a drug in the body, primarily in the liver.
• Phases include functionalization (e.g., oxidation) and conjugation (e.g., glucuronidation) to increase water-solubility.
• First-pass metabolism occurs when a drug is metabolized in the liver before reaching systemic circulation.
• Half-life (t1/2) is the time it takes for a drug concentration in the bloodstream to decrease by half.

Pharmaco-therapeutics Revision Cards

• Pharmaco-therapeutics is the use of drugs to treat diseases and applying pharmacological principles in clinical practice.
• Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are unintended, harmful reactions at normal therapeutic doses.
• Types of ADRs include Type A (augmented), Type B (bizarre), Type C (chronic), Type D (delayed), and Type E (end of treatment).
• Reporting ADRs is crucial for identifying new, rare, or long-term side effects, preventing harm, and supporting regulatory bodies.
• Methods for reporting ADRs include using the Yellow Card Scheme (UK) or similar systems, reporting through healthcare providers, or online platforms.
• Inverted Black Triangle drugs are closely monitored for additional safety concerns.
• Concerns about drug safety include unpredictable or serious adverse effects, substandard or incorrect formulations, drug interactions, non-compliance by patients, and over-prescription or misuse.
• Whistleblowing in healthcare involves reporting unsafe practices that could harm patients or the public.

Controlled Drugs (CDs) Revision Cards

• Controlled drugs (CDs) are categorized based on their potential for misuse or harm.
• Classification in the UK is based on their potential for abuse and therapeutic use.
• Schedules 1 to 5 differ in their potential for abuse and legitimate medical uses.
• Legal requirements for prescribing CDs include written prescriptions, specific prescription forms, and appropriate storage and handling.
• Safe storage and secure handling of CDs are essential.
• Destruction requirements for CDs must be witnessed and recorded.

Pharmaco-therapeutics Revision Cards

• Prescribing controlled drugs requires adherence to legal regulations.
• Prescribers must ensure a patient's legitimate need for the drugs.
• Patients must be monitored appropriately.
• Prescriptions must specify the correct dose, formulation, and quantity.

Electronic Prescribing (e-Prescribing)

• Electronic prescribing reduces errors, improves communication, and enhances medication safety.
• Features include patient identification, drug selection, and an audit trail.

Prescribing for Children

• Weight-based dosing is important for children.
• Formulations suitable for children (e.g., liquids) should be used.
• Legal requirements for prescribing for children may vary.

Prescribing for Older Adults

• Older adults may have different pharmacokinetic characteristics affecting drug efficacy and safety.
• Polypharmacy is a major concern for older adults.
• Increased risk of drug-drug interactions is a major issue.
• Cognitive impairment requires simplifying dosages.

Adverse Drug Reactions and Yellow Card Reporting

• Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are unintended responses to medication.
• Types include predictable (Type A), unpredictable (Type B), chronic (Type C), delayed (Type D), and end-of-treatment (Type E).
• Reporting ADRs can improve medication safety.

Key Principles of Medicine Optimization

• Patient-centered care is essential.
• Appropriate medication choice with minimal risk is needed.
• Adherence to the prescribed regimen should be encouraged.
• Risks of adverse effects and drug-drug interactions must be minimized.
• Ongoing monitoring and adjustments to treatment are important.
• The 4 pillars of medicine optimization involve informed decisions, effective medicines, safe and appropriate use, and adherence.
• Benefits of medicine optimization include improved outcomes, cost-effectiveness, improved patient satisfaction, and reduced hospital admissions due to drug-related events.

Deprescribing

• Deprescribing is the process of tapering or discontinuing medications that are no longer needed or beneficial.
• It's crucial for patients taking multiple medications, aging patients, or those with deteriorating health.
• Steps involve identifying inappropriate medications, assessing risks and benefits, consulting with the patient, tapering/discontinuing the medication, and monitoring for effects.
• Benefits include reduced medication burden, improved quality of life, cost savings, and improved adherence.

Legal Requirements for Prescriptions

• Prescriptions require the prescriber's details, patient information, drug details, dosage, frequency, and duration.
• Abbreviations used in prescriptions should be clear and consistent.
• Detailed storage requirements exist for controlled substances (CDs).

Documentation Revision Cards & Documentation

• Accurate, clear, and timely documentation is essential for patient safety and legal protection.
• Documentation includes patient history, assessments, treatment plans, progress notes, medications, and discussions.
• Standardized terminology and formats should be used.
• Principles such as accuracy, clarity, timeliness, legibility, confidentiality, and ownership must be followed.

This quiz covers key concepts in pharmacology, including drug actions, classifications, routes of administration, and receptor interactions. It also discusses the therapeutic index, side effects, and drug interactions which are crucial for safe medication use. Test your understanding of pharmacological principles and their applications in healthcare.