Midterm Review: Pharmacology and Venipuncture

Vocabulary-style flashcards covering core pharmacology concepts, routes of administration, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, and drug interactions.

Pharmacology

The study of drugs in living systems and their effects on the body.

Pharmacokinetics

The study of how a drug is absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and excreted (ADME) in the body.

Absorption

Process by which a drug becomes available for use in the body after administration.

Distribution

The movement of a drug from the bloodstream to body tissues and its site of action.

Metabolism (Biotransformation)

Chemical alteration of a drug (primarily by the liver) into metabolites for excretion.

Excretion

Removal of drug molecules or metabolites from the body, mainly via the kidneys.

Oral route

Administration by mouth; safest and most convenient but generally slower and subject to first-pass metabolism.

Sublingual route

Drug placed under the tongue for rapid absorption directly into the bloodstream, bypassing the liver.

Buccal route

Drug held between gums and cheek for absorption; similar bypass of the liver as sublingual.

Topical route

Drug applied to skin or mucous membranes for local or systemic absorption.

Rectal route

Administration via the rectum; useful when oral administration is unsuitable or vomiting is present.

Parenteral route

Drug administration by injection, bypassing the GI tract (IV, IM, SC, ID).

Intravenous (IV)

Injection directly into a vein for rapid effect and immediate systemic distribution.

Intramuscular (IM)

Injection into muscle tissue; faster than subcutaneous for some drugs but slower than IV.

Subcutaneous (SC)

Injection into the fatty tissue under the skin; absorption is slower and often used for nonirritating solutions.

Intrademal (ID)

Injection into the dermal layer of the skin; used for allergy testing and local anesthesia.

Central venous catheter

A catheter placed in a large vein (e.g., subclavian) for IV access and monitoring.

Swan-Ganz catheter

Pulmonary artery catheter used to measure pressures and monitor cardiac function.

Pharmacodynamics

Study of the effects of drugs on the body and the mechanism of action.

Onset of action

Time from drug administration to the first observable effect.

Duration of action

Length of time the drug produces a therapeutic effect.

Termination of action

Point at which the drug’s effects are no longer observed.

Minimal Effective Concentration (MEC)

Lowest plasma concentration that produces a therapeutic effect.

Therapeutic range

Range between MEC and peak serum concentration where the drug is effective but not toxic.

Toxic level

Plasma concentration at which the drug produces toxic effects.

Mechanism of action

Process by which a drug produces its effects, including receptor and enzyme interactions.

Receptor

Biologic site where a drug binds with affinity to elicit a response.

Agonist

A drug that binds a receptor and triggers a physiological response.

Antagonist

A drug that binds to a receptor and blocks its activation by other substances.

Mixed agonist-antagonist

A drug with both agonist and antagonist properties, producing opposing actions.

Drug-enzyme interactions

Interactions where a drug resembles the enzyme’s substrate and affects metabolism (e.g., cytochrome P450 enzymes).

Cytochrome P450

A family of liver enzymes that metabolize many drugs.

Efficacy

The ability of a drug to produce the desired therapeutic effect.

Potency

The amount of drug needed to produce a given effect; higher potency requires a smaller dose.

Side effects

Predictable, secondary effects of a drug that may be beneficial or harmful.

Adverse effects

Unwanted, harmful effects caused by a drug.

Toxicity

Harmful effects related to excessive drug dose or impaired metabolism/elimination.

Drug-drug interactions

Interactions where two or more drugs alter each other’s effects (additive, synergistic, or antagonistic).

Synergism

When combined drugs produce a greater effect than the sum of their individual effects.

Additive effects

When combined drugs produce an effect equal to the sum of their separate effects.

Antagonism

When one drug reduces or blocks the effect of another.