General Pharmacology Practice Flashcards

Vocabulary-style flashcards covering general pharmacology concepts, medication types, routes of administration, and medical direction protocols based on the lecture transcript.

Pharmacology

The study of drugs, their sources, their characteristics, and their effects.

US Pharmacopia

A comprehensive list of all medications including their trade, chemical, and generic names.

Trade Name

The brand name of a medication, which is typically capitalized.

Generic Name

The official name of a medication, which is typically written in lower case.

Indication

Signs or circumstances under which it is appropriate to administer drugs to a patient.

Contraindication

Signs or circumstances under which it is not appropriate or is harmful to the patient to administer a drug.

Side Effect

Any action of a drug other than the desired action.

Untoward Effect

A drug effect that is not only unexpected but is also harmful to the patient.

Pharmacodynamics

The study of the specific effect medications will have on the body and on the patient specifically.

Enteral

A route of medication administration that uses the GI tract, such as liquids and pills.

Parenteral

A route of medication administration that bypasses the GI tract, such as intravenous or intramuscular injections.

5 Rights

A safety check consisting of checking the right pt (patient), right medication, right dose, right route, and right time ($5$ rights).

Echo Technique

The process of listening and repeating back a verbal order to significantly reduce medication errors.

Offline Medical Direction

Medication administration based on standing orders or protocols without direct contact with a physician.

On-line Medical Direction

Medication administration performed after calling and obtaining verbal direction from a physician.

Asprin

A medication that prevents clots, indicated for chest pain of cardiac origin.

Oral Glucose

A gel used for patients with AMS (Altered Mental Status) and a history of diabetes, representing low blood sugar.

Activated Charcoal

A suspension used for certain poisonings or ODS (overdoses) that absorbs toxins and prevents drug absorption into the digestive tract.

Naloxone

An intranasal medication used when narcotics were used by the patient.

Nitroglycerin

A vasodilator that opens vessels for chest pain associated with cardiac issues; it is contraindicated if systolic BP is less than $100$ or if ED meds were taken in the last $24$ hours.

Epinepherine

An auto-injector medication used for Anaphalaxis that acts as a vasoconstrictor to increase BP and a bronchodilator to open the airway.

Bronchodilator Inhalers

Fine powder or vaporized medications that relax bronchiole tubes to make breathing easier; side effects include increased HR and jitterness (anxiety).

Analgesics

Medications prescribed for pain relief.

Antidysrhythmics

Drugs prescribed for patients with heart rhythm irregularities.

Anticonvulsants

Medications used to prevent or treat seizures.

Antihypertensives

Prescribed drugs used to reduce high BP (Blood Pressure).

KVO Rate

The "Keep vein open" rate; an adequate IV flow rate to prevent blood from clotting in the catheter.

Infiltrated IV

A condition where the IV needle has punctured the vein and exited the other side, causing fluid to flow into surrounding tissue instead of the vein.