Mod 1 content (Foundations of Pharmcology)

What are adverse effects?

Unwanted or bad side effects that happen when you take a drug (can be annoying or even dangerous).

What is a brand name?

The company's name for the drug (like "Tylenol").

What is a chemical name?

The scientific name based on the drug's structure (not used often by nurses).

What are drugs?

Chemicals put in your body to cause a change, usually to help fix a problem.

What does FDA stand for?

Food and Drug Administration - the government agency that checks if drugs are safe and effective before they can be sold.

What are generic drugs?

Cheaper versions of brand-name drugs that work the same (like "acetaminophen" instead of "Tylenol").

What is a generic name?

The official name of the drug (used in most hospitals and drug books).

What is genetic engineering?

Changing the DNA of things (like bacteria) to make useful drugs.

What is off-label use?

Using a drug for something it wasn't originally approved for, but may still work for.

What are orphan drugs?

Drugs made for rare diseases that aren't profitable, so the government helps companies develop them.

What are over-the-counter (OTC) drugs?

Drugs you can buy without a prescription, like allergy meds or pain relievers.

What is pharmacology?

The study of drugs and how they affect the body.

What is pharmacotherapeutics?

The part of pharmacology that looks at how we use drugs to treat, prevent, or diagnose diseases.

What are preclinical trials?

Testing drugs in labs or animals (not humans yet) to see if it's safe.

What is a Phase I study?

Testing a new drug in a small group of healthy people to check safety and how it works.

What is a Phase II study?

Testing the drug in a small group of sick people to see if it helps their condition.

What is a Phase III study?

Testing the drug in a larger group of patients to see how well it really works and catch any side effects.

What is a Phase IV study?

Watching the drug's long-term effects after it's sold to the public.

What does teratogenic mean?

A drug that can harm a baby during pregnancy (can hurt the zygote, embryo, or fetus).

What do nurses need to know about pharmacology?

They need to understand clinical pharmacology (pharmacotherapeutics): how the drug affects the body and how the body responds.

Why is it important for nurses to understand pharmacotherapeutics?

Because patients often take multiple medications, may experience side effects, and manage medications at home.

What are side effects?

Unwanted or harmful effects of a drug, also known as adverse effects.

What do nurses do with medications?

Administer drugs safely, monitor for reactions, teach patients, and check for medication errors.

How can nurses stay informed about medications?

By using updated drug books like the Nursing Drug Handbook or Lippincott Pocket Drug Guide.

What are key parts of a nursing care plan for drug therapy?

Assessments, nursing diagnoses, interventions, and evaluations.

Where do drugs come from?

They can be from natural sources (plants, animals), inorganic compounds, or made synthetically in labs.

What are examples of plant-based drugs?

Digitalis (heart), morphine and codeine (pain), dronabinol (nausea, appetite).

How are animals used to produce drugs?

They provide substances like insulin, thyroid hormones, and growth hormones.

What are inorganic drug compounds?

Non-living elements like aluminum, fluoride, gold, and iron used for health conditions.

What are synthetic drugs?

Lab-made drugs that copy or improve natural substances to work better or have fewer side effects.

What is a drug class?

A group of drugs that work in similar ways.

What is a prototype drug?

The main or first drug in a class used as a model to understand the rest.

What does the FDA do?

Approves drugs that are safe and effective before they are sold.

What is off-label use of a drug?

Using a drug for a condition not officially approved by the FDA.

Why did drug laws change over time?

Past drug tragedies, like deaths from toxic drugs and birth defects, led to stricter laws.

What did the 1938 Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act do?

Required drugs to be tested for safety.

What did the 1970 Controlled Substances Act establish?

Rules for drugs that can be abused or are addictive.

What do FDA pregnancy categories mean?

They show the risk a drug may pose to a fetus.

What does Category A mean in pregnancy labeling?

No risk shown in humans.

What does Category X mean?

Proven to hurt the fetus—do not use.

What is the new FDA labeling system for pregnancy?

It includes detailed risks, breastfeeding info, and fertility effects.

What are controlled substances?

Drugs that can be abused or cause addiction, regulated by the FDA and DEA.

What is a Schedule I drug?

Highest risk, no legal use (e.g., heroin, LSD).

What is a Schedule II drug?

High risk, legal but very addictive (e.g., oxycodone, Adderall).

What is a generic drug?

A cheaper copy of a brand-name drug with the same active ingredient.

What is DAW (Dispense As Written)?

A doctor's note to use brand-name instead of generic.

What are orphan drugs?

Drugs for rare diseases developed with government support.

What are OTC drugs?

Drugs available without a prescription for common problems.

What are BTC drugs?

Drugs that don't need a prescription but have purchase restrictions (e.g., pseudoephedrine).

What are key sources of drug info for nurses?

Drug labels, package inserts, drug apps, FDA website, and pharmacists.

Why is it important to stay updated on drug info?

Because drug info changes constantly and safe care depends on it.

What is absorption?

How a drug gets into your bloodstream after you take it.

What is distribution?

Where the drug goes in the body after entering the bloodstream (e.g., muscles, organs).

What is excretion?

How your body gets rid of the drug (through pee, poop, breath, sweat, or bile).

What is the first-pass effect?

When a drug taken by mouth is partially broken down by the liver before reaching the bloodstream.

What is glomerular filtration?

The process of filtering drugs and waste through the kidneys into the urine.

What is half-life?

How long it takes for half of the drug to leave the body.

What is a loading dose?

A larger initial dose to get the drug working faster.

What is pharmacodynamics?

What the drug does to your body (how it works and affects your system).

What is pharmacokinetics?

What your body does to the drug (how it moves through the body).

What is pharmacogenomics?

How your genes affect how you respond to a drug.

What are receptor sites?

Spots on cells where drugs attach and cause changes.

What is the placebo effect?

When belief in a drug's effectiveness helps it work better.

What is passive diffusion?

Drug moves from high to low concentration without energy.

What is active transport?

Drug moves from low to high concentration using energy.

What is enzyme induction?

Some drugs increase enzyme activity, speeding up drug breakdown.

What is the hepatic microsomal system?

Liver enzyme system that helps break down drugs.

What is critical concentration?

The amount of drug needed to get the desired effect.

What is therapeutic index?

Comparison of helpful vs. harmful drug dose; high index = safer.

What are chemotherapeutic agents?

Drugs that kill harmful cells like bacteria or cancer.

What is selective toxicity?

The drug attacks only bad cells, not healthy ones.

What are 4 ways drugs work in the body?

Replace missing substances, stimulate, depress, or destroy cells.

How do agonist drugs work?

They stimulate a cell to produce a response.

How do antagonist drugs work?

They block the cell from being activated.

What is a noncompetitive antagonist?

Blocks cell action indirectly from a different site.

What is a partial agonist?

Partially stimulates a cell or blocks it, depending on the site.

What are drug-enzyme interactions?

Drugs affect enzyme activity to change body functions.

What is an example of a drug-enzyme interaction?

Acetazolamide blocks an enzyme in the kidneys causing increased urination.

What is dynamic equilibrium?

Balance of absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion determining drug levels.

What is filtration?

Drug moves through pores in membranes; may or may not use energy.

How does weight affect drug response?

Doses are usually based on a 150-lb person; heavier people may need more, smaller people may need less.

How does age affect drug response?

Children and older adults metabolize and excrete drugs differently due to organ immaturity or decline.

How does sex affect drug response?

Males have more muscle (faster IM absorption); females have more fat (slower clearance of fat-soluble drugs).

What physiological factors affect drug response?

Hydration, acid-base balance, and body rhythms.

What pathological factors affect drug response?

Diseases affecting GI, liver, kidney, or circulation can alter drug absorption and elimination.

How do genetic factors affect drug response?

Genes can affect how drugs are metabolized and tolerated (pharmacogenomics).

How does the immune system affect drug response?

Allergies can cause rashes, anaphylaxis, or even death.

How do psychological factors affect drug response?

Belief in treatment (placebo effect) and trust in healthcare influence outcomes.

How does the environment affect drug response?

Stress, noise, and temperature can influence how drugs work.

What is drug tolerance?

The body gets used to a drug, requiring higher doses for the same effect.

What is drug accumulation?

When the body can't eliminate a drug fast enough and it builds up to toxic levels.

What are drug-drug interactions?

When one drug changes the effect of another through absorption, metabolism, excretion, or action site.

What is an example of a drug-food interaction?

Grapefruit juice blocks liver enzymes and alters drug levels.

What are drug-lab test interactions?

Some drugs affect lab test results even if the body is fine.

What should nurses always assess before giving drugs?

Kidney and liver function, weight, age, sex, allergies, and other meds.

What should nurses educate patients about?

How to take medications safely, possible side effects, and interactions.

What is a contraindication?

A condition or factor that means a drug should not be used (e.g., allergy).

What non-medical factors should nurses consider when giving drugs?

Culture, emotions, support systems, and environment.

What should nurses do if a drug isn't working?

Assess for interfering factors, adjust the plan, don't stop it right away.

What's the nurse's key role in drug therapy?

Assess, educate, monitor, and adjust treatment to get the best results with the least risk.