Pharmacology Nursing Review Flashcards

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards generated from the Top Rank Review Academy nursing pharmacology lecture module covering definitions, clinical trial phases, autonomic nervous system agents, and specialized drug classes.

Pharmacology

The study of drugs, their origin, nature, properties and their effects upon living organism.

Pharmacotherapy

The use of drugs to prevent, diagnose, or treat signs, symptoms and disease process.

Pharmacodynamics

What the drug does to the body; involves drug actions on target cells and the resulting alterations in cellular biochemical reactions and functions.

Pharmacokinetics

What the body does to the drug; involves drug movement through the body to reach sites of action, metabolism and excretion.

Absorption

Drug transport process occurring from the time a drug enters the body to the time it enters the bloodstream to be circulated.

Distribution

Transport of drug molecules within the body.

Metabolism

Also known as biotransformation; the method by which drugs are inactivated by the body.

Excretion

Refers to the elimination of a drug from the body via the kidneys, bowel, lungs, and skin.

Side effects

Physiologic effects not related to desired drug effects; expected and normal.

Adverse reactions

Any undesired responses to drug administration that are more severe than side effects, abnormal, and reportable.

Toxic effects

Life-threatening emergency effects resulting from excessive amounts of drug that may cause reversible or irreversible damage to body tissues.

PHASE I Drug Testing

Initial clinical trial stage designed to determine safe dosage, scheduling, and toxicity.

PHASE II Drug Testing

Clinical trial stage designed to determine effectiveness with specific diseases.

PHASE III Drug Testing

Clinical trial stage designed to establish if a new drug is more effective than the standard drug.

PHASE IV Drug Testing

Stage where a drug is marketed for general use, involving continuous monitoring and further testing.

Sympathetic Nervous System

Also termed adrenergic thoracolumbar fight-or-flight system; prepares the body to respond to stress using epinephrine and norepinephrine as major neurotransmitters.

Parasympathetic Nervous System

Also termed cholinergic craniosacral system; uses acetylcholine as its major neurotransmitter.

Sympathomimetics

Drugs that mimic the effect of norepinephrine, also known as adrenergic agonists.

Sympatholytics

Drugs that block the effect of norepinephrine, also known as adrenergic antagonists.

Parasympathomimetics

Drugs that mimic acetylcholine, also known as cholinergic agonists.

Parasympatholytics

Drugs that block acetylcholine, also known as cholinergic antagonists.

Phentolamine mesylate

Antidote for norepinephrine and dopamine overdose.

SLUDGE

Acronym for drug effects of cholinergic agents: Salivation, Lacrimation, Urinary incontinence, Diarrhea, Gastrointestinal cramps, Emesis.

Atropine Sulfate

Antidote for cholinergic overdose or muscarinic agonist poisoning.

Pralidoxime

Antidote for irreversible acetylcholinesterase-inhibiting drugs.

Carbidopa

Drug that inhibits the enzyme dopa decarboxylase in the peripheral nervous system, preventing 99% of Levodopa from converting to dopamine before reaching the brain.

Lithium carbonate

Anti-manic agent used for bipolar disorder; requires monitoring blood levels to maintain normal therapeutic range ($0.5\text{ to }1.5\,mEq/L$).

Extrapyramidal Side Effects (EPS)

Adverse effects of antipsychotics including acute dystonia, pseudoparkinsonism, akathisia, and tardive dyskinesia.

NSAIDs

Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs that interfere with prostaglandin synthesis to treat rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and dysmenorrhea.

Anti-gout Agents

Drugs like Allopurinol, Colchicine, and Probenecid that increase excretion of uric acid and decrease uric acid formation.

Anti-emetics

Drugs that prevent expulsion of stomach contents by decreasing stimulation of either the chemoreceptor trigger zone or the vomiting center in the medulla.

Cardiac Glycosides

Drugs like Digoxin that improve heart pumping ability by increasing force of contraction ($(+)$ inotropic) and decreasing heart rate ($(-)$ chronotropic).

Digoxin Immune FAB (Digibind)

Antidote for digoxin toxicity.

Inotrope

Agent factor affecting cardiac contractility ($(+)$ inotrope increases contractility).

Chronotrope

Agent factor affecting heart rate ($(+)$ chronotrope increases heart rate).

Dromotrope

Agent factor affecting AV conduction ($(+)$ dromotrope increases AV conduction).

Thrombolytics

Drugs such as Streptokinase and Urokinase that bind with plasminogen to dissolve thrombi (clots) in coronary arteries.

Aminocaproic acid

Antidote and fibrinolysis inhibitor used for thrombolytic overdose.

Mucolytics

Agents like Acetylcysteine that act by dissolving chemical bonds within mucus, causing it to separate, liquefy, and reduce viscosity.

Expectorants

Agents like Guaifenesin that stimulate gastric mucosal production of lung mucous.

Anti-tussives

Drugs like Codeine and Dextromethorphan that act on the cough control center in the medulla to suppress the cough reflex.

Protamine sulfate

Antidote for Heparin overdose.

Vitamin K

Antidote for Coumadin (Warfarin) overdose.