pharm

Pharmaceutics

Refers to how the body uses different forms of medications; primarily occurs when a drug is taken by mouth.

Pharmacokinetics

Describes what the body does to the drug, including absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion.

Absorption

The process by which a drug enters the body fluids; can occur passively, actively, or via pinocytosis.

Bioavailability

The proportion of a drug that enters the circulation when introduced into the body; only intravenous drugs are 100% bioavailable.

Hepatic first-pass

The metabolism of a drug in the liver after being absorbed from the stomach or small intestine, reducing the amount that enters the systemic circulation.

Metabolism

The process of breaking down drugs in the body, primarily occurring in the liver.

Half-life

The time it takes for half of a drug to be eliminated from the body.

Excretion

The process by which drugs leave the body, primarily through the kidneys.

Therapeutic Index

The safety margin of a drug, indicating the range between effective and toxic doses.

Onset

The time it takes for a drug to begin producing minimal therapeutic effects.

Peak

The time when a drug is producing maximum therapeutic effects.

Duration

How long a drug can provide a therapeutic effect.

Protein binding

The attachment of drugs to protein receptors in the body, affecting their distribution and activity.

Nonspecific effects

Effects of a drug that arise when it binds to one receptor and alters the function controlled by that receptor.

Nonselective effects

Effects of a drug that occur when it binds to multiple receptors, potentially affecting several bodily functions.

Adverse effect

A severe and undesirable side effect that may prevent drug use.

Toxic effect

Effects resulting from either an excessively high dosage or organ failure leading to accumulation in the body.

Body Surface Area (BSA)

A measurement of the total surface area of the human body, typically used for estimating drug dosages.

Patient Safety

The goal of drug administration, involving rights such as patient, drug, dose, route, time, and documentation.

Loading dose

An initial higher dose of a drug aimed at rapidly achieving a therapeutic effect.