Abrams Chapter 1+2/ Henke Chapter 9

Foundation of pharmacology + Basics to Administering Drugs

Cellular Physiology

The study of the functions and activities of cells, including material exchange, energy acquisition, reproduction, and communication.

Pharmacokinetics

The study of how drugs are absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and excreted in the body.

Absorption

The process by which a drug enters the bloodstream from the site of administration.

Distribution

The process by which drugs are transported throughout the body by blood and tissue fluids to their sites of action.

Metabolism

The process by which the body inactivates or biotransforms drugs, converting them to inactive or active metabolites.

Excretion

The elimination of drugs and their metabolites from the body.

Therapeutic Effect

The desired response from a drug that alleviates symptoms or promotes health.

Adverse Effects

Undesired responses to medication administration that can occur even at therapeutic doses.

Black Box Warning

A warning required by the FDA highlighting serious or life-threatening effects of a drug.

Beneficence

The ethical principle that obligates nurses to act in the best interests of the patient.

Nonmaleficence

The ethical principle that obliges nurses to not inflict harm on patients and to prevent harm whenever possible.

Confidentiality

The ethical duty to protect patient information obtained in a professional capacity.

BEERS Criteria

A list of medications considered potentially unsafe for older adults, aimed at reducing adverse effects and improving safety.

Bioavailability

The proportion of a drug that reaches the systemic circulation in a form that is able to have an active effect.

Half-life ($t_{1/2}$)

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

First-pass Effect

The phenomenon where the concentration of a drug is greatly reduced by the liver before it reaches the systemic circulation, typically occurring with oral administration.

Pharmacodynamics

The study of the biochemical and physiological effects of drugs on the body and the mechanisms of their action.

Agonist

A drug that binds to a receptor and activates it to produce a biological response.

Antagonist

A drug that binds to a receptor but does not activate it, instead blocking or dampening the response of other agonists.

Autonomy

The ethical principle that recognizes the right of patients to make their own decisions about their healthcare.

Justice

The ethical principle of fairness in the distribution of resources and treatment of all patients.

Polypharmacy

The use of multiple medications by a patient, often seen in the elderly, which increases the risk of drug-drug interactions and adverse effects.

Teratogenicity

The capacity of a drug to cause birth defects or fetal abnormalities when administered to a pregnant woman.

Cellular Physiology

The study of the functions and activities of cells, including material exchange, energy acquisition, reproduction, and communication.

Pharmacokinetics

The study of how drugs are absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and excreted in the body.

Absorption

The process by which a drug enters the bloodstream from the site of administration.

Distribution

The process by which drugs are transported throughout the body by blood and tissue fluids to their sites of action.

Metabolism

The process by which the body inactivates or biotransforms drugs, converting them to inactive or active metabolites.

Excretion

The elimination of drugs and their metabolites from the body.

Therapeutic Effect

The desired response from a drug that alleviates symptoms or promotes health.

Adverse Effects

Undesired responses to medication administration that can occur even at therapeutic doses.

Black Box Warning

A warning required by the FDA highlighting serious or life-threatening effects of a drug.

Beneficence

The ethical principle that obligates nurses to act in the best interests of the patient.

Nonmaleficence

The ethical principle that obliges nurses to not inflict harm on patients and to prevent harm whenever possible.

Confidentiality

The ethical duty to protect patient information obtained in a professional capacity.

BEERS Criteria

A list of medications considered potentially unsafe for older adults, aimed at reducing adverse effects and improving safety.

Bioavailability

The proportion of a drug that reaches the systemic circulation in a form that is able to have an active effect.

Half-life ($t_{1/2}$)

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

First-pass Effect

The phenomenon where the concentration of a drug is greatly reduced by the liver before it reaches the systemic circulation, typically occurring with oral administration.

Pharmacodynamics

The study of the biochemical and physiological effects of drugs on the body and the mechanisms of their action.

Agonist

A drug that binds to a receptor and activates it to produce a biological response.

Antagonist

A drug that binds to a receptor but does not activate it, instead blocking or dampening the response of other agonists.

Autonomy

The ethical principle that recognizes the right of patients to make their own decisions about their healthcare.

Justice

The ethical principle of fairness in the distribution of resources and treatment of all patients.

Polypharmacy

The use of multiple medications by a patient, often seen in the elderly, which increases the risk of drug-drug interactions and adverse effects.

Teratogenicity

The capacity of a drug to cause birth defects or fetal abnormalities when administered to a pregnant woman.

Therapeutic Index

The ratio between the toxic dose ($TD_{50}$) and the effective dose ($ED_{50}$) of a drug, representing its margin of safety.

Steady State

The physiological state where the amount of drug eliminated is equal to the amount of drug absorbed per unit of time.

Peak Level

The highest concentration of a drug in the plasma, reflecting the peak rate of absorption.

Trough Level

The lowest concentration of a drug in the plasma, measured immediately before the next dose is given.

Prodrug

An inactive compound that must be metabolized by the body (usually in the liver) to become an active pharmacological agent.

Veracity

The ethical principle that refers to the duty to tell the truth and not deceive patients.

Fidelity

The ethical principle of being faithful to commitments, following through with promises, and maintaining competence.

Synergistic Effect

A drug interaction occurring when two drugs with similar actions produce an effect greater than the sum of their individual effects (1 + 1 > 2).

Antagonistic Effect

A drug interaction occurring when the combined effect of two drugs is less than the sum of their individual effects (1 + 1 < 2).

Loading Dose

A large initial dose of a medication administered to rapidly achieve a therapeutic drug level in the body.

Cellular Physiology

The study of the functions and activities of cells, including material exchange, energy acquisition, reproduction, and communication.

Pharmacokinetics

The study of how drugs are absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and excreted in the body.

Absorption

The process by which a drug enters the bloodstream from the site of administration.

Distribution

The process by which drugs are transported throughout the body by blood and tissue fluids to their sites of action.

Metabolism

The process by which the body inactivates or biotransforms drugs, converting them to inactive or active metabolites.

Excretion

The elimination of drugs and their metabolites from the body.

Therapeutic Effect

The desired response from a drug that alleviates symptoms or promotes health.

Adverse Effects

Undesired responses to medication administration that can occur even at therapeutic doses.

Black Box Warning

A warning required by the FDA highlighting serious or life-threatening effects of a drug.

Beneficence

The ethical principle that obligates nurses to act in the best interests of the patient.

Nonmaleficence

The ethical principle that obliges nurses to not inflict harm on patients and to prevent harm whenever possible.

Confidentiality

The ethical duty to protect patient information obtained in a professional capacity.

BEERS Criteria

A list of medications considered potentially unsafe for older adults, aimed at reducing adverse effects and improving safety.

Bioavailability

The proportion of a drug that reaches the systemic circulation in a form that is able to have an active effect.

Half-life ($t_{1/2}$)

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

First-pass Effect

The phenomenon where the concentration of a drug is greatly reduced by the liver before it reaches the systemic circulation, typically occurring with oral administration.

Pharmacodynamics

The study of the biochemical and physiological effects of drugs on the body and the mechanisms of their action.

Agonist

A drug that binds to a receptor and activates it to produce a biological response.

Antagonist

A drug that binds to a receptor but does not activate it, instead blocking or dampening the response of other agonists.

Autonomy

The ethical principle that recognizes the right of patients to make their own decisions about their healthcare.

Justice

The ethical principle of fairness in the distribution of resources and treatment of all patients.

Polypharmacy

The use of multiple medications by a patient, often seen in the elderly, which increases the risk of drug-drug interactions and adverse effects.

Teratogenicity

The capacity of a drug to cause birth defects or fetal abnormalities when administered to a pregnant woman.

Therapeutic Index

The ratio between the toxic dose ($TD_{50}$) and the effective dose ($ED_{50}$) of a drug, representing its margin of safety.

Steady State

The physiological state where the amount of drug eliminated is equal to the amount of drug absorbed per unit of time.

Peak Level

The highest concentration of a drug in the plasma, reflecting the peak rate of absorption.

Trough Level

The lowest concentration of a drug in the plasma, measured immediately before the next dose is given.

Prodrug

An inactive compound that must be metabolized by the body (usually in the liver) to become an active pharmacological agent.

Veracity

The ethical principle that refers to the duty to tell the truth and not deceive patients.

Fidelity

The ethical principle of being faithful to commitments, following through with promises, and maintaining competence.

Synergistic Effect

A drug interaction occurring when two drugs with similar actions produce an effect greater than the sum of their individual effects (1 + 1 > 2).

Antagonistic Effect

A drug interaction occurring when the combined effect of two drugs is less than the sum of their individual effects (1 + 1 < 2).

Loading Dose

A large initial dose of a medication administered to rapidly achieve a therapeutic drug level in the body.

Routes of Administration

The various paths by which drugs are introduced into the body, categorized as enteral ($PO$, sublingual, rectal) or parenteral ($IV$, $IM$, $SC$).

Protein Binding

The interaction where drug molecules bind to plasma proteins like albumin; only the 'free' portion is pharmacologically active.

Nephrotoxicity

Toxic damage to the kidneys caused by medications, often monitored through creatinine levels and glomerular filtration rate ($GFR$).

Hepatotoxicity

Liver injury resulting from drug metabolism, frequently assessed by monitoring liver function tests ($LFTs$) such as $ALT$ and $AST$.

Cytochrome P450 System ($CYP450$)

A major family of hepatic enzymes involved in the metabolism of many drugs and endogenous chemicals.

Enzyme Induction

A process in which a drug stimulates the liver to produce more metabolic enzymes, decreasing the effectiveness of drugs metabolized by those enzymes.

Enzyme Inhibition

A process in which a drug blocks the activity of metabolic enzymes, leading to increased levels of other drugs and heightened risk of toxicity.

Drug Potency

The amount of drug ($mg$) required to elicit a defined response; a more potent drug requires a smaller dose for the same effect.

Drug Efficacy

The capacity of a drug to produce a maximum therapeutic response, representing the limit of the drug-receptor interaction.

Drug Tolerance

A state where repeated administration of a drug results in a diminished effect, requiring larger doses to maintain the original pharmacological response.

Drug Classifications

According to effects on:

 Specific body systems
 Therapeutic uses: Diagnosis
 Chemical characteristics: How it affects the
body