Pharmacology: Medication Routes, Pharmacokinetics, and Receptor Actions

Right drug

The correct medication that is prescribed for the patient.

Right dose

The appropriate amount of medication to be administered.

Right patient

The individual who is to receive the medication.

Right route

The correct method of administration for the medication.

Right time

The specific timing for administering the medication.

Oral (PO)

A method of drug administration that is simple, convenient, and cheap but has a slow onset of action and unknown exact dose received.

Sublingual (SL) & Buccal

Methods of drug administration that are absorbed by the bloodstream and can be used by NPO patients.

Inhalation

A method of drug administration that provides rapid effects targeting the lungs but requires the drug to be gas or aerosol.

Topical & Transdermal

Methods of drug administration that generally cause fewer systemic side effects but may irritate skin or mucous membranes.

Intravenous (IV)

A method of drug administration that allows for rapid drug action and almost 100% dose receipt but requires sterile technique.

Intramuscular (IM)

A method of drug administration that allows for rapid drug absorption but is limited to small volumes (up to 3 mL) and can be painful.

Subcutaneous (SUB Q)

A method of drug administration that is less painful but allows only small amounts (up to 1 mL) and has slower absorption.

PICC

A type of catheter that reduces the need for repeat needle sticks and can be used for longer periods but is more invasive and carries a risk of infection.

Pharmacokinetics

The study of how drugs move throughout the body, encompassing absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination.

ADME

An acronym for Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, and Elimination in pharmacokinetics.

Absorption

The process from when a drug enters the body to when it enters the bloodstream, affected by dosage form and bioavailability.

Bioavailability

The portion of a dose that reaches systemic circulation and is available to act on body cells.

Distribution

The process by which drugs move to their site of action and may bind to proteins.

Metabolism

The process of breaking down active drugs into inactive metabolites, primarily occurring in the liver.

CYP enzymes

A family of enzymes responsible for most drug metabolism in the liver, including CYP1, CYP2, and CYP3.

Elimination

The process of removing waste products from the body, often measured by creatinine clearance.

Minimum effective concentration (MEC)

The lowest concentration of a drug that produces therapeutic effects.

Serum half-life

The time required for the serum concentration of a drug to decrease by 50%, typically taking 4-5 half-lives to reach steady-state.

Loading dose

A dose larger than the regular prescribed daily dosage used to attain a therapeutic blood level quickly.

Pharmacodynamics

The study of what a drug does to the body to cause an effect.

Passive Diffusion

The movement of a drug from an area of high concentration to an area of lower concentration.

Facilitated diffusion

A process similar to passive diffusion that involves a carrier substance.

Active Transport

The movement of a drug from an area of low concentration to a high concentration, requiring a special carrier and cellular energy.

Agonists

Drugs that produce effects similar to those of naturally occurring hormones and neurotransmitters.

Antagonists

Drugs that inhibit cell function by occupying receptor sites.