Comprehensive Nursing Pharmacology: Drug Classifications, Forms, and Pharmacokinetics Flashcards | Quizlet

What is the definition of pharmacokinetics in nursing pharmacology?

The study of drug movement throughout the body, encompassing absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion.

In pharmacokinetics, what does the term 'Absorption' refer to?

The process by which a drug moves from its site of administration into the bloodstream.

What is the primary site of drug metabolism (biotransformation) in the body?

The liver is the primary site where drugs are chemically altered by enzymes.

Which pharmacokinetic phase involves the movement of the drug from the blood to the interstitial space of tissues and into cells?

Distribution.

What is the primary organ responsible for drug excretion?

The kidneys, which remove drug metabolites primarily through urine.

How is 'Bioavailability' defined regarding drug administration?

The percentage of the administered drug dose that actually reaches the systemic circulation.

What is the 'First-pass effect' in oral drug administration?

A phenomenon where a drug is metabolized by the liver immediately after absorption from the GI tract, significantly reducing its active concentration before reaching systemic circulation.

What does a drug's half-life ($t_{1/2}$) represent?

The time required for the concentration of a drug in the body to decrease by $50\%$.

What is the difference between therapeutic and pharmacologic drug classifications?

Therapeutic classification is based on the disease the drug treats, while pharmacologic classification is based on the drug's specific mechanism of action.

What is a 'Prototype Drug'?

A well-understood drug model with which other drugs in its representative pharmacologic class are compared.

Define the 'Generic Name' of a medication.

The official, nonproprietary name assigned by the government; usually written in lowercase and used universally.

Define the 'Brand Name' (Trade Name) of a medication.

The proprietary name assigned by the pharmaceutical company that develops the drug; it is trademarked and usually capitalized.

What is 'Protein Binding' and why is it significant in distribution?

The attachment of drug molecules to plasma proteins (like albumin); only 'free' or unbound drugs are pharmacologically active.

What is the 'Blood-Brain Barrier'?

A physiological barrier that prevents many substances, including certain drugs, from entering the brain and spinal cord.

What process describes drug movement across a membrane from an area of higher concentration to lower concentration without energy?

Passive transport or diffusion.

What is 'Active Transport' in drug absorption?

The movement of a drug against a concentration gradient requiring both energy and a carrier protein.

What is 'Pinocytosis'?

A form of active transport where a cell engulfs a drug particle in a vesicle to move it across the cell membrane.

What is the 'Chemical Name' of a drug?

A name that describes the exact chemical structure and molecular composition of the drug.

What characterizes enteral drug forms?

Medications administered via the gastrointestinal tract, such as tablets, capsules, and elixirs.

What characterizes parenteral drug forms?

Medications administered via injection (IV, IM, SQ), effectively bypassing the gastrointestinal tract.

What are 'Excipients' in drug formulations?

Inactive ingredients, such as fillers and flavors, added to drug forms to enhance stability or delivery.

What is an 'Elixir' drug form?

A clear, sweetened, hydroalcoholic liquid intended for oral use.

What is a 'Sustained-Release' (SR) medication form?

A tablet or capsule designed to release medication slowly into the body over an extended period of time.

What is a 'Transdermal Patch'?

A topical drug form applied to the skin that allows for slow, systemic absorption of the medication over a set period.

What is the 'CYP450 system' in pharmacokinetics?

A family of enzymes in the liver responsible for the metabolism of the majority of pharmaceutical drugs.