Oral Medication

medication

Is a substance administered for the diagnosis, cure, and treatment, or relief of a symptom or for prevention of disease.

oral medication

The process by which drugs are delivered by mouth through the alimentary tract.

drug

has the connotation of an illicitly obtained substance such as heroin, cocaine, or amphetamines.

drug

Any substance that can change the structure and function of the body or mind.

drug dependency

It is an individual's reliance on a drug or substance.

It means that when a person stops using a drug, their body goes through withdrawal, and thus a group of physical and mental symptoms can range from mild to life-threatening

drug tolerance

Exists in a client who exhibits an unusually low physiologic response to a drug and who requires increases in the dosage to maintain a given therapeutic effect.

pharmacology

the study of the effect on living organisms, including their origin, composition, pharmacokinetics, therapeutic use, and toxicology

adverse reaction

May justify the discontinuation of a drug.

It is a secondary unwanted effect that occurs due to drug therapy

placebo

is any treatment that has no active properties, but is more for the mental relief of the patient.

pharmacokinetics

The study of absorption. distribution, biotransformation, and excretion of drugs

pharmacodynamics

Is the mechanism of drug action and relationships between drug concentration and resulting effects in the body.

route

The path by which a drug, fluid, or other substance is taken into the body.

frequency

The number of occurrences a medication is administered in a periodic or repeated phase in a unit of time, such as taking medications twice per day.

brand name

A drug's trade name is the name given by the drug manufacturer and identifies it as a property of that company

absorption

Is the process by which a drug passes into the bloodstream.

distribution

Is the transportation of a drug from its site of absorption to its site of action.

biotransformation

Also called detoxification or metabolism is a process by which a drug is converted to a less active form.

Side effects

Secondary effect of a drug is one that is unintended

Usually predictable and harmless or potentially harmful.

dosage

It is an administration of a drug or agent with prescribed amounts at a prescribed interval.

pharmacopeia

Is a book containing a list of products used in medicine, with descriptions of the product used in medicine, chemical tests for determining identity and purity, and formulas and prescriptions.

Tablet

Active substances pressed or compacted from a powder into a solid dose.

Capsule

Substances in a powdered, liquid, or oil form enclosed in an outer shell that can be broken down in the digestive tract and then absorbed in the body.

Caplet

It is a solid form but it is shaped like a capsule.

Lozenges

A substance that is prepared along with sugar and gum. This helps promote the slow release of the medication. This medication is intended to slowly dissolve in the mouth.

pill

One or more drugs mixed with a cohesive material in oval, round, or flat shapes. Medicine or Vitamin that requires no chewing.

syrup

A concentrated sugar solution in water to which particular pharmaceuticals are typically added.

elixir

Hydro-alcoholic liquid taken orally. Contains Flavoring

extract

Substance obtained through the extraction of plants, bacteria, and animals to be used as a drug.

suspension

A used in dosage when the drug is insoluble in water. A \____is a liquid that contains tiny medication particles.

tincture

Medicine/substance that is obtained through the soaking of herbs in alcohol to make a liquid extract.

Liniment

Liquid that is rubbed into the skin to reduce pain or stiffness. It is possible to ease muscle stiffness and arthritis pain by massaging into the skin.

cream

A nongreasy, semisolid preparation used on skin.

gel/jelly

A Formulation along with an external solution or medication that is suitable for hydrophobic bases.

lotion

Solution or suspension of a drug for large areas of skin. This medicine is applied topically as a moisturizer to treat or prevent mild skin irritations and dry, rough, scaly, itchy skin.

ointment

A semisolid preparation of one or more drugs used for application to the skin and mucous membrane

paste

Preparation like the ointment, but thicker and stiff, that penetrates the skin less than an ointment

Suppositories

One or several drugs mixed with a firm base such as gelatin and shaped for insertion into the body Base dissolves gradually at body temperature, releasing the drug

Development factors

Changes in body development (children or older adults

Weight

Some Drugs may cause weight gain or lose

Gender

Changes mostly pertain to the hormones or woman

Psychological factors

Cause Depression, Anxiety, etc.

Illness/ Disease

Certain drugs may influence illnesses or diseases

Environment

Temperature of person's surroundings may affect drug administration

Time of Administration

Drugs take time to be absorbed by stomach Others absorbed when mixed with food.

Diet

Drugs could cause an increase or decrease food consumption

palliative

curative

supportive

substitutive

chemotherapeutic

restorative

therapeutic actions of drugs

Palliative

Relieves symptoms of disease

ex: aspirin for pain

Curative

condition

ex: penicillin for infection

Supportive

Supports body function until other treatments or body response takes over

ex: norepinephrine bitatrate for low blood pressure

Substitutive

Replaces body fluids or substances

ex: insulin for diabetes mellitus

Chemotherapeutic

Destruction of malignant cells

ex: busulfan for leukemia

Restorative

Tries to return body back to health

ex: vitamin, mineral supplements

oral

Most common convenient, and least expensive Some dosage forms are tablets, capsules, gels. Absorbed through GI tract.

Sublingual

Placed under tongue and dissolved. Should not be swallowed. Medication abosrbed into blood vessel on tongue's base

Buccal

Held against cheek mucous membranes. When swallowed in saliva, medication may have local or systemic effect on mucous membranes.

Topical

Applied to skin or mucous membranes. Affects area applied

Parenteral

Given by routes other than digestive tract Through injection or infusion

Parenteral

Subcutaneous (Hypodermic) - injection through subcutaneous tissue Intramuscular (IM) - medication injected into muscle Intradermal (ID) - medication injected under the epidermis Intravenous (IV) - medication is injected into the vein

Therapeutic

Treatment, prevention, and relieving of symptoms Dosage of medicine to treat disease

Side Effects

Undesirable side effects brought by medicine Might range from a runny nose to liver damage or a heart attack

Adverse Effect

Much more harmful and unexpected than side effects like surgery Negative and unwanted reaction to medication Can be from mild to life-threatening

Toxic effect

How poisonous or harmful a substance can be Drug toxicity occurs when an excessive amount of prescription drug is in the system.

Idiosyncratic Reaction

One that is unexpected and may be individual to a client Underesponse and overresponse to a drug may be idiosyncratic

Allergic Reaction

Immune system response to medication Hives, rash, or fever are typical signs of drug allergy More severe reactions result from drug allergy.

Analgesic

Inflammation and pain-relieving medications Known as "painkillers"

Anesthesia

Stops sensory/pain signals from being sent to brain. Eliminates pain during surgery.

Antihistamines

Used to treat allergy symptoms. Avoid motion sickness

Anti-infective

Treat or prevent infection. Antibacterials, antifungals, and antivirals

Cardiovascular drugs

People whose hearts and blood vessels are affected.

Diagnostics

Used for diagnosis

Biologicals

Targets mostly immune system. Helps reduce inflammation Can Cause fever and allergic reactions.

Antineoplastic/ Immunosuppressants

Administered by patients with cancer Known as cancer-fighting treatments. Immunosuppressants target immune system Doesn't mistake healthy cells as tissue

per oral

p.o

before meals

ac

after meals

pc

every

q

every day

q.d

twice a day

b.i.d

Patient Information

Obtaining relevant demographic (age, weight) and clinical (allergies, test results) information from the patient to assist practitioners in choosing the proper drugs, doses, and methods of administration.

Drug Information

Providing accurate and useful drug information to all healthcare practitioners participating in the medication-use process minimizes the number of preventable ADEs.

Communication of drug information

It is always vital to verify pharmacological information and remove communication obstacles to reduce the number of medication errors caused by miscommunication.

Drug labeling, packaging and nomenclature

The use of accurate labeling and unit dosing systems reduces the occurrence of drug errors.

Drug storage, stock, standardization, and distribution

Standardizing drug administration schedules and concentrations, as well as restricting the dose concentration of medications available in patient care areas, will lessen the chance of medication errors or mitigate the repercussions of an error if one occurs.

Drug device acquisition, use, and monitoring

Adequate safety assessments of medication delivery devices should be performed both before and after they are purchased.

Environmental factors

A well-designed system has the highest chance of preventing errors; yet, the work environment can sometimes lead to pharmaceutical errors.