ATI Pharmacology Video Notes – Key Vocabulary

Fifty vocabulary flashcards summarizing key pharmacology concepts, adverse effects, and nursing considerations from the ATI study video.

Hydra hydralazine (antihistamine)

An antihistamine with anticholinergic properties that commonly causes dry mouth, drowsiness, dizziness, blurred vision, and urinary retention.

Anticholinergic effects

Physiologic responses such as dry mouth, blurred vision, constipation, tachycardia, and urinary retention caused by blockade of muscarinic receptors.

Dry mouth (xerostomia)

A common anticholinergic adverse effect characterized by decreased salivary secretion and oral dryness.

Urinary retention

Difficulty or inability to void urine, often seen with drugs that have anticholinergic properties.

Calcitonin-salmon (intranasal)

Hormonal nasal spray used to treat postmenopausal osteoporosis by inhibiting bone resorption.

Bone resorption

The process by which osteoclasts break down bone tissue, releasing minerals into the blood; inhibited by calcitonin-salmon.

Spacer (MDI accessory)

A chamber placed on a metered-dose inhaler that improves lung drug delivery and reduces oropharyngeal deposition, especially helpful for children.

Urine specific gravity

A laboratory measure of urine concentration; normal 1.005–1.030, values >1.030 suggest dehydration.

Dehydration

Fluid volume deficit that leads to concentrated urine and high specific gravity (e.g., 1.035).

Insulin glulisine (Apidra)

A rapid-acting insulin with onset ~15 min, peak ~1 h, and duration 3–4 h.

Rapid-acting insulin

Insulin analogs (e.g., glulisine, lispro, aspart) that begin working within 10–20 min to control post-meal glucose spikes.

Onset of action (insulin glulisine)

Approximate time of 15 minutes from injection to initial blood-glucose–lowering effect.

Peak action (insulin glulisine)

The time (about 1 hour post dose) when insulin glulisine exerts its maximum glucose-lowering effect.

Duration of action (insulin glulisine)

Total period of glucose control lasting roughly 3–4 hours after administration.

Medication error first priority

Ensure client safety by assessing the patient before all other actions (e.g., check apical pulse after double dose of digoxin).

Digoxin toxicity

Potentially life-threatening condition marked by bradycardia, dysrhythmias, visual changes, and nausea; risk increases with dosing errors or hypokalemia.

Apical pulse assessment

Monitoring heart rate at the apex for one full minute, essential before administering or after errors with digoxin.

Albuterol

A short-acting β₂-agonist (SABA) rescue inhaler that rapidly relieves acute bronchospasm during asthma attacks.

Short-acting beta-2 agonist (SABA)

Class of inhaled bronchodilators (e.g., albuterol) that act within minutes and are first-line for sudden asthma symptoms.

Warfarin (Coumadin)

Oral anticoagulant that inhibits vitamin K-dependent clotting factors, increasing bleeding risk.

Medic alert identification

Bracelet or ID card worn to inform providers of critical conditions or medications like warfarin in emergencies.

Furosemide (torsemide brand)

Loop diuretic used in heart failure to remove excess fluid but can cause ototoxicity at high or rapid doses.

Loop diuretic

Potent diuretic class (e.g., furosemide) that inhibits Na⁺-K⁺-2Cl⁻ cotransporter in the loop of Henle, promoting diuresis.

Ototoxicity

Damage to the inner ear resulting in tinnitus or hearing loss, associated with high-dose or rapid IV loop diuretics.

Transdermal contraceptive patch

Hormonal birth-control patch applied weekly to clean, dry skin of abdomen, buttocks, upper arm, or torso (not breast).

Epoetin alfa

Erythropoiesis-stimulating agent that increases red blood cell production but often causes hypertension.

Hypertension (epoetin adverse effect)

Elevation of blood pressure requiring monitoring and possibly antihypertensive therapy during epoetin alfa treatment.

Clonidine

Central α₂-adrenergic agonist antihypertensive that may cause drowsiness, weakness, and sedation.

CNS depression (clonidine)

Sedation and impaired alertness that necessitate caution with driving or hazardous activities until response is known.

Theophylline

Methylxanthine bronchodilator with a narrow therapeutic window used for chronic asthma or bronchitis.

Narrow therapeutic range

Small margin between therapeutic and toxic serum concentrations, requiring close monitoring (e.g., theophylline).

Early theophylline toxicity signs

Tremors, nausea, vomiting, restlessness, insomnia, tachycardia, and possible seizures or arrhythmias.

Lithium toxicity

Potentially serious accumulation of lithium due to low sodium or dehydration, causing GI upset, tremor, and neurologic changes.

Sodium depletion

Loss of sodium from vomiting, diarrhea, sweating, or low intake that promotes renal lithium retention and toxicity.

Hypokalemia

Serum potassium <3.5 mEq/L; can be induced by diuretics and augments digoxin toxicity risk.

Potassium-rich foods

Dietary sources such as bananas, oranges, spinach, and potatoes that help prevent hypokalemia.

Digoxin & hypokalemia interaction

Low potassium enhances digoxin binding to cardiac cells, increasing toxicity risk; potassium supplementation is protective.

Phenelzine

Monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) antidepressant requiring strict dietary tyramine restriction.

Tyramine-containing foods

Aged cheeses, cured meats, fermented products that can trigger hypertensive crisis with MAOIs.

Hypertensive crisis

Acute, severe elevation in blood pressure that may occur when tyramine is ingested with MAOIs like phenelzine.

Sumatriptan

Serotonin agonist for migraine that can cause coronary vasospasm and is contraindicated after myocardial infarction.

Coronary vasospasm

Sudden constriction of coronary arteries leading to ischemia; potential adverse effect of triptans such as sumatriptan.

Levothyroxine overdose

Excess thyroid hormone replacement presenting with tremor, tachycardia, heat intolerance, anxiety, and weight loss.

Hyperthyroid-like symptoms

Clinical manifestations (e.g., tremor, palpitations, diarrhea) that mimic hyperthyroidism and signal excessive levothyroxine.

Chlordiazepoxide

Long-acting benzodiazepine used to prevent seizures, delirium tremens, and agitation during alcohol withdrawal.

Alcohol withdrawal

Potentially life-threatening state of CNS hyperexcitability managed with benzodiazepines like chlordiazepoxide.

Isoniazid

First-line antitubercular drug that can cause hepatotoxicity; liver enzymes must be monitored.

Rifampin

Antitubercular agent often combined with isoniazid; hepatotoxic and causes orange body fluid discoloration.

Liver function tests (AST, ALT)

Serum enzymes monitored during isoniazid or rifampin therapy to detect hepatotoxicity; patients should avoid alcohol.

Hydrochlorothiazide

Thiazide diuretic for hypertension and edema that promotes sodium and water excretion but can cause hypokalemia.