Pharmacology Terminology and Drug Therapy

Study Notes

Pharmacodynamics: Study of how drugs interact with the body at a molecular level.
Pharmacoeconomics: Analysis of the cost-effectiveness of drug therapy.
Pharmacogenomics: Investigating how genetics influence drug responses.
Pharmacognosy: Studying drugs derived from natural sources like plants.
Pharmacokinetics: Examining how drugs are absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and excreted.
Pharmacology: The overarching study of drugs and their effects.
Pharmacotherapeutics: Treatment of diseases using drugs, also known as therapeutics.

Generic Name: The official, non-proprietary name of a drug based on its chemical structure.
Trade Name: The brand name given by the pharmaceutical company producing the drug.
Pharmacotherapeutics: The use of drugs to treat diseases or conditions.
Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR): A harmful or unintended effect resulting from a drug or health product.

Synergistic Effect: When two drugs combined produce a greater effect than the sum of their individual effects.
Therapeutic Effect: The desired effect of a drug, the intended outcome of the treatment.
Additive Effect: When two combined drugs have an effect equal to the sum of their individual effects.

Distribution: The process of a drug moving from the bloodstream to various tissues and organs.
Metabolism: The breakdown of drugs by the body, primarily through enzymatic processes.
Excretion: The elimination of drugs and their metabolites from the body through various pathways like urine, feces, and sweat.

Half-life: The time it takes for the drug's concentration in the body to decrease by half.
Peak: The time at which the drug reaches its highest concentration in the body.
Onset: The time it takes for the drug to start producing its therapeutic effect.
Duration: The length of time the drug's therapeutic effect persists.

ADPIE: An acronym for the nursing process: Assessment, Diagnosis, Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation. The nursing process is crucial for safe and effective medication administration.
Medication Reconciliation: A process of verifying and reviewing a patient's medication list to ensure accuracy and minimize errors. This includes ensuring the correct dosage, frequency, and route of administration for each medication.

Parenteral Routes: Drug administration routes that bypass the digestive system, including intramuscular (IM), intravenous (IV), subcutaneous (SUBQ), and catheter administration.

Plasma Protein Binding: Drugs can bind to proteins in the blood, particularly albumin. This binding can affect the drug's distribution and elimination.

Idiosyncratic Reaction: An unusual, unpredictable drug reaction specific to the individual patient.
Allergic Reaction: An immune response to a drug, potentially causing symptoms like rash, itching, or difficulty breathing.
Medication Errors: A preventable error that may cause harm or have the potential to cause harm.
Adverse Drug Event (ADE): Any injury resulting from the administration of a drug, whether intentional or unintentional.

Neonates: Newborns (age 0-1 month) require careful medication adjustments due to their underdeveloped organs and smaller size.
Infants and Children: Dosage adjustments are necessary for infants (1 month to 12 months) and children (1-12 years) due to their developing bodies.
Elderly: The elderly population often experiences slower metabolism and decreased organ function, potentially leading to drug accumulation and adverse effects.

Therapeutic Response: The expected outcome of a treatment, the desired effect of the medication. For example, pain relief from a headache after taking acetaminophen.