Medication Administration and Pharmacology

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to pharmacology and medication administration, as discussed in the lecture.

Pharmacodynamics

The process in which a medication interacts with the body’s cells to produce a biologic response.

Drug

Any substance that positively or negatively alters physiologic function.

Medication

A drug specifically administered for its therapeutic effect on physiologic function.

Generic name

A simpler term than the chemical name for a drug.

Trade name

The registered name assigned by the drug manufacturer.

Pharmacokinetics

The study of how a medication enters the body, moves through the body, and ultimately leaves the body.

A-D-M-E

Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion - the four processes involving a medication in pharmacokinetics.

Absorption

The passage of a drug from the administration site into the bloodstream.

Distribution

The process of delivering the medication to tissues and organs and ultimately to the specific site of action.

Metabolism

The process by which a drug is altered to a less active form to prepare for excretion.

Excretion

The process of removing the less active drug or its metabolites from the body.

Half-life

The expected time it takes for the blood concentration to measure one-half of the original drug dose.

Onset of action

The time the body takes to respond to a drug after administration.

Peak plasma level

The highest serum (blood) concentration of a drug.

Trough

The lowest serum level of the medication.

Side effects

Predictable but unwanted reactions to medications.

Adverse effects

Severe, unintended, unwanted, and often unpredictable drug reactions.

Toxic effects

Result from a medication overdose or buildup of medication in the blood.

Allergic reactions

Unpredictable immune responses to medications.

Anaphylactic reaction

A severe allergic reaction that is a medical emergency.

Idiosyncratic reaction

An unpredictable patient response to medication.

Synergistic effect

When the combined effect of two substances is greater than the effect of either alone.

Antagonism

When the drug effect is decreased by taking the drug with another substance.

Oral Medication

Administered by oral route (PO).

Topical Medication

Applied to the skin surface.

Inhaled Medication

Taken into the body through the respiratory tract.

Parenteral Medication

Administered by injection into tissue, muscle, or vein.

Vial

A container that holds medication; requires clean rubber top and air injection before withdrawing the dose.

Ampule

A sealed vial that requires the top to be broken away for access to the medication.

Intramuscular Injection

An injection into a muscle.

Subcutaneous Injection

An injection into the subcutaneous tissue just below the skin.

Intravenous Injection

An injection or infusion directly into the bloodstream via a vein.

Medication error characteristics

Wrong patient, wrong dose, wrong time, wrong route, wrong medication.

Medication Reconciliation

Performed during admission, transfer, and discharge to prevent medication errors.

Common Herbs and side effects

Garlic and Ginkgo biloba can increase bleeding; Ginseng can decrease effectiveness of anticoagulants.