PHARM/PATHPHYS

Prodrug

Drugs that have increased effects AFTER being metabolized

• ex: Codeine can’t act on pain relief receptors until it has been metabolized into morphine

Pharmacokinetics

How body responds to drug

Pharmacodynamics

How drug acts on the body

Metabolites

Inactivation of drug and conversion to water-soluble molecule that can be recognized and excreted by kidneys

Teratogenic

Drug may harm fetus

Left shift

Increase in immature WBC’s released into the bloodstream

• Often happens when body req. surplus of WBC’s during a severe immune response

Trough

Opposite to peaks

• When pt has lowest level of drug in body

• Point at which next dose should be administered

Sympathomimetic

Adrenergic Agonist

• mimics natural response

Sympatholytic

Adrenergic Antagonist

• inhibits natural response

Parasympathomimetic

Cholinergic Agonist

• mimics natural response

Parasympatholytic

Cholinergic Antagonist

• inhibits natural response

Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitor

Cholinergic Agonist

• prevents breakdown of acetylcholine

Inotrope

Changes force of muscular contraction

• can increase OR decrease

• Often affects heart muscle

Chronotrope

Affects rate of heart contraction

• affects HR

Dromotrope

Effects speed of electric conduction

• mainly affects AV Node

Kussmaul Respiration

Compensatory Hyperventilation

• deep, rapid breaths

Lung Parenchyma

Functional lung tissue responsible for moving O2 and CO2

Shunting (in lungs)

Blood supply is present but air is not, therefore no gas exchange

Alveolar Dead Space

Air is present but blood supply is not, therefore no gas exchange

Pneumothorax

Air in pleural cavity + lung collapse

Pleural effusion

Fluid in pleural space

Chylothorax

Chyle exudate (from lungs)

Hemothorax

Blood exudate (from lungs)

Empyema

Pus (in lungs)

Cor Pulmonale

Right-sided heart failure

Polycythemia

Higher-than-normal blood concentration of RBC’s, hemoglobin, and hematocrit

Erythropoietin

Hormone primarily produced by kidneys to stimulate RBC production in the bone marrow

Virchows Triad

3 main factors that result in blood clot (thrombosis)

1. Venous stasis

2. Hypercoagulability

3. Endothelial injury

Prophylaxis

Medical action used to prevent disease or condition