History and Basics of Pharmacology

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the basics of pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, drug administration, legal classifications, and medication safety guidelines.

Pharmacology

The study of medication, derived from the roots pharmakon (medicine) and ology (study of).

Pharmacokinetics

How medication is absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and excreted, describing what the body does to drugs.

Pharmacodynamics

The effect a drug has on the body and the changes that a drug creates on the body.

Absorption

The movement of medication from the site of administration to the bloodstream or intended target.

Distribution

The delivery of a drug throughout the body to the site in need or intended target after being absorbed into the bloodstream.

Metabolism

The breakdown of a drug, also called biotransformation, where it is gradually transformed to a less active or inactive form primarily in the liver, kidneys, and intestines.

Biotransformation

The metabolism of medications, occurring largely in the liver, where a drug is transformed into a less active or inactive form.

Half Life

The time needed for $50\%$ of a drug to be metabolized.

Excretion

The process through which drugs and waste products are removed from the body, primarily by the kidneys.

Cumulation

A build up of medication in the body that leads to illness.

Agonist

A drug that binds to a receptor to produce a desired effect.

Antagonist

A substance that blocks an action or response at a receptor.

Enteral Administration

Administration of medication directly into the GI system, which includes oral, rectal, and tube routes.

Parenteral Administration

Medication administration routes including intramuscular (IM), intravenous (IV), subcutaneous (SC), and intradermal (ID).

Percutaneous Administration

Medication administration routes including inhalation, sublingual, topical, and transdermal.

First Pass Effect

The extensive metabolism of enteral medications by the GI system or liver before reaching systemic circulation, requiring alternate routes or multiple doses.

Generic Drug Name

A medication name with the same active ingredients as the brand name, produced by other manufacturers once the original patent expires.

Trade Name

The brand name given to a drug by its manufacturer after clearing Phases $1$ through $3$ of clinical trials.

Onset

The point in time when a drug's effect starts.

Peak

The maximum concentration of a drug producing its greatest therapeutic effect, measured in serum shortly after administration.

Duration

The total amount of time a medication works in the body.

Therapeutic Window

The dose range of a drug between minimally effective and toxic, measured via serum levels.

Trough

The lowest drug concentration level, drawn $30\text{ minutes}$ prior to the next scheduled dose.

Side Effects

Unintended drug effects that are usually mild (such as nausea, constipation, or drowsiness) and typically allow the patient to continue taking the drug.

Adverse Effect

Unanticipated, harmful, unpredictable, and often severe effects on the client, such as a life-threatening allergic reaction.

Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

The US agency that ensures the safety and security of drugs and medical devices, approves new medications, and oversees risk management like boxed (black box) warnings.

Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA)

The US agency responsible for enforcing laws and regulations pertaining to controlled substances.

Drug Schedules

Federal law categorizations of drugs based on their medical use, potential for abuse, safety, and addictiveness.

Schedule I Substance

A controlled substance category with high abuse potential and no accepted medical use, exemplified by Heroin.

Schedule II Substance

Controlled substances with high potential for abuse, exemplified by Oxycodone and Hydrocodone.

Schedule III Substance

Controlled substances with moderate abuse potential, exemplified by Tylenol 3.

Schedule IV Substance

Controlled substances with lower potential for abuse, exemplified by Ativan, Valium, and Xanax.

Schedule V Substance

A schedule category consisting of medications with low abuse potential, including certain over-the-counter (OTC) products.

Drug Diversion

The illegal transfer or use of a controlled substance by an individual who was not prescribed the medication, commonly involving opioids.

Substance Use Disorder

An illness caused by the repeated misuse of a substance such as opioids, sedatives, or stimulants.

Joint Commission

A national certifying and accrediting organization focused on improving the quality and safety of health care.

Do Not Use List of Abbreviations

A safety list maintained by The Joint Commission prohibiting ambiguous abbreviations like U, IU, QD, QOD, trailing zeros ($X.0$), lack of leading zeros ($.X\text{ mg}$), MS, MSO4, and MgSO4.

Three Label Checks

Safety procedure requiring checking the medication label before taking it from storage, before removing the drug from the container, and before returning it to the shelf.