PHARM Exam 1 Studyguide #2

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards based on pharmacology concepts, definitions, and terms important for nursing students.

Pharmacodynamics

The study of how drugs affect the body.

Dose-dependent relationship

The relationship between the amount of drug administered and the intensity of the response produced.

Maximal efficacy

The maximum effect a drug can produce regardless of dose.

Relative potency

Comparative effectiveness of drugs based on the amount needed to achieve a specific effect.

Receptors

Proteins that drugs bind to in order to exert their effects.

Selective drug action

The ability of a drug to affect only certain receptors, thereby eliciting specific effects.

Affinity

The strength of the attraction between a drug and its receptor.

Intrinsic activity

The ability of a drug to activate a receptor upon binding.

Agonist

A drug that fully activates a receptor to produce a maximum response.

Partial agonist

A drug that activates a receptor but produces a less than maximum response compared to a full agonist.

Antagonist

A drug that binds to a receptor but does not activate it, blocking the effect of agonists.

Interpatient variability

Differences in individual patients' responses to the same drug.

ED50 (Average Effective Dose)

The dose of a drug that produces a therapeutic effect in 50% of the population.

Therapeutic index

The ratio between the toxic dose and the effective dose of a drug.

Drug-drug interactions (DDI)

Changes in the effect of one drug caused by the presence of another drug.

Substrate

A substance on which an enzyme acts.

Inducer

A drug that increases the activity of an enzyme, leading to increased metabolism of another drug.

Inhibitor

A drug that decreases the activity of an enzyme, leading to decreased metabolism of another drug.

Adverse Drug Reactions (ADR)

Unwanted, harmful reactions to medication.

Side Effect

A secondary, typically undesirable effect of a drug.

Toxicity

The degree to which a substance can damage an organism.

Allergic reaction

An immune response to a drug that can cause a range of symptoms.

Idiosyncratic effect

An unusual or unexpected reaction to a drug that is specific to an individual.

Paradoxical effect

An effect that is opposite to the effect expected from a drug.

Iatrogenic disease

A disease caused inadvertently by a physician or medical treatment.

Physical dependence

A physiological state resulting from chronic use of a drug, leading to withdrawal symptoms upon discontinuation.

Carcinogenic effect

A substance that can lead to cancer development.

Teratogenic effect

An effect that causes malformation of an embryo or fetus.

Hepatotoxicity

Chemical-driven liver damage.

QT Drugs

Medications that affect the QT interval on an ECG, potentially causing serious heart rhythm disturbances.

Black Box Warning (BBW)

A type of warning that appears on the labeling of prescription drugs, indicating that the drug carries a significant risk of serious or life-threatening adverse effects.

Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS)

Strategies to manage and minimize a drug's risk while maintaining access.

Medication error

A preventable event that may cause or lead to inappropriate medication use or patient harm.