Pharmacology Review: Pharmacokinetics and Reproduction Notes

100 vocabulary flashcards covering pharmacokinetics, drug administration routes, adverse effects, contraception, pregnancy related pharmacology, and common interactions as described in the lecture notes.

Intravenous (IV) administration

Drug delivered directly into bloodstream; rapid onset due to immediate entry.

Subcutaneous (SC) administration

Injection under the skin; slower absorption than IV.

Topical administration

Drug applied to skin or mucous membranes for local effect.

Transdermal administration

Drug delivered through the skin into systemic circulation, usually via patch.

Distribution

Movement of a drug by the circulatory system from the administration site to tissues.

Rich blood supply

Areas such as liver, kidneys, and heart receive higher drug concentrations.

Brain blood brain barrier

Barrier that limits drug entry into the brain, reducing CNS exposure.

Absorption

Process of a drug crossing from site of administration into the bloodstream.

Metabolism

Body chemically alters a drug, usually in the liver, to more soluble forms.

Biotransformation

Chemical alteration of a drug during metabolism; produces metabolites.

Metabolite

The altered form produced by metabolism, may be active or inactive.

Excretion

Elimination of a drug from the body.

Renal excretion

Drug elimination via the kidneys into urine.

Reabsorption

Some drugs are reabsorbed by the kidneys before excretion.

Gastrointestinal excretion

Drug elimination through the GI tract into feces.

Lung excretion

Drug elimination via exhaled air or through lungs.

Half-life

Time required for the drug level to fall by 50 percent.

Short half-life

Drugs cleared quickly; may require frequent dosing.

Propofol half life

Propofol has a very short half life leading to rapid recovery after stopping.

Long half-life

Drugs linger longer in the body; dosing may be less frequent.

Onset

Time from administration to first detectable effect.

Peak level

Time when drug concentration in blood is highest.

Duration

How long the drug effect lasts.

Therapeutic level

Drug concentration that achieves desired effect without toxicity.

Peak monitoring

Measuring peak level to avoid toxicity.

Trough level

Measuring trough level to ensure drug remains above therapeutic level.

Peak and trough

Use of peak and trough measurements to maintain therapeutic range.

Vancomycin

Antibiotic commonly monitored with peak and trough levels.

Therapeutic drug monitoring

Regular measurement of drug levels to guide dosing.

Adverse drug reaction

Undesirable or harmful drug effect, can be serious.

Side effect

Secondary effect of a drug, often predictable and milder than adverse reaction.

Anaphylaxis

Severe allergic reaction with airway swelling and shock; medical emergency.

Angioedema

Localized swelling of lips, tongue, throat from allergic reaction.

Epinephrine

Medication used to treat anaphylaxis; restores airway and blood pressure.

Airway management

Ensuring airway patency during severe allergic reactions.

Histamine

Chemical released during allergic reactions; contributes to symptoms.

Tolerance

Diminished response to a drug with repeated use.

Cumulative effect

Drug buildup in the body with repeated dosing leading to higher exposure.

Toxicity

Harmful drug levels causing adverse effects.

Dose adjustment

Changing dose due to organ impairment or tolerance.

Onset peak duration summary

Key pharmacokinetic phases used to time dosing for efficacy.

Oral contraceptives

Combined estrogen and progestin pills to prevent pregnancy.

Ethinyl estradiol

Common estrogen component in many oral contraceptives.

Progestin

Progesterone-like hormone in contraceptives that aids pregnancy prevention.

Estrogen

Hormone component in oral contraceptives contributing to ovulation suppression.

Thrombotic risk with OC

Increased risk of blood clots in OC users, especially with risk factors.

Hypertension with OC

Oral contraceptives can raise blood pressure in some users.

Smoking and OC risk

Smoking increases clot risk, especially in older or overweight users.

Plan B emergency contraception

High dose contraception used after unprotected sex to prevent pregnancy.

Plan B mechanism

Delays ovulation and thickens cervical mucus, reducing chances of fertilization.

Plan B dosing

Two doses taken 12 hours apart.

Time window Plan B

Most effective within 72 hours of intercourse.

Plan B not routine birth control

Not intended as regular contraception.

Plan B STI protection

Does not protect against sexually transmitted infections.

St John’s wort interaction OC

Herbal supplement that induces metabolism and can reduce OC effectiveness.

Grapefruit juice interaction

Can alter drug metabolism affecting OC levels.

Ketoconazole interaction

Antifungal that can affect hepatic metabolism of some drugs including OCs.

Antibiotics interaction OC

Some antibiotics may reduce OC effectiveness.

Anticonvulsant interaction OC

Certain seizure medications can decrease OC effectiveness.

Transdermal contraception patch

Hormonal patch worn on skin for long acting contraception.

Depo-Provera

Depot medroxyprogesterone acetate injectable contraception every 3 months.

Menopause hormone therapy

Hormone replacement therapy to treat menopausal symptoms.

Endometriosis treatment

Medications to relieve symptoms of endometriosis.

Ovulation stimulant

Drug used to stimulate ovulation for fertility.

Oxytocin

Hormone that stimulates uterine contractions during labor.

Terbutaline

Beta-2 agonist used as a tocolytic to stop preterm labor.

Terbutaline pump

Device delivering terbutaline to relax uterus during preterm labor.

Preterm labor

Labor occurring before term; managed with tocolytics and supportive care.

Fetal lung maturity

Readiness of fetal lungs for air breathing at birth.

Surfactant

Substance reducing surface tension in the lungs to prevent RDS.

Glucocorticoids for fetal lungs

Steroids given to accelerate fetal lung development.

Betamethasone

Corticosteroid used to speed fetal lung maturation.

Dexamethasone

Alternative corticosteroid for fetal lung maturation.

IVH risk reduction

Antenatal steroids can reduce risk of intraventricular hemorrhage.

Pulmonary edema in pregnancy

Fluid in lungs as a potential adverse during therapy.

Hypertension monitoring in pregnancy

Monitor maternal blood pressure and related signs during pregnancy therapies.

Immunizations in pregnancy

Discuss safety of vaccines during pregnancy.

Sildenafil

Viagra; PDE5 inhibitor; vasodilator used for erectile dysfunction.

Nitrates interaction sildenafil

Nitrates with sildenafil can cause dangerous hypotension.

Sexually transmitted infections

Infections such as HIV and gonorrhea; surveillance in care settings.

HIV

Human immunodeficiency virus; an STI that requires management.

Gonorrhea

Bacterial sexually transmitted infection.

Nursing home STI outbreaks

Outbreaks of STIs documented in elderly populations in care facilities.

OC adherence education

Educate patients to take pills at the same time each day.

Diabetes and OC

Diabetes may require monitoring and dose considerations with OCs.

Blood pressure monitoring with OC use

Regular checks due to potential BP elevation from OC use.

Adverse vs side effect distinction

Adverse reactions are harmful; side effects are usually milder or expected.

Anaphylaxis treatment steps

Airway management, epinephrine administration, oxygen, and supportive care.

Emergency contraception does not protect against STIs

Plan B does not prevent sexually transmitted infections.

Oral contraceptive contraindications

Certain conditions may make OC use unsafe; assess risk before prescribing.

Oral administration

Route where drugs are taken by mouth and absorbed through the GI tract.

Elderly pharmacology differences

Older adults may respond differently due to organ changes and comorbidity.

Pediatric pharmacology differences

Children have unique pharmacokinetics and dosing considerations.

Absorption from alveoli

Inhaled drugs are absorbed through alveolar membranes into blood.

Blood flow and tissue distribution variance

Perfusion differences affect how much drug reaches tissues.

Blood brain barrier exceptions

Some drugs cross the BBB easily while others do not.

Allergic reaction vs adverse effect

Allergic reactions can be severe; some adverse effects are not allergy related.

Pharmacodynamics vs pharmacokinetics

Pharmacokinetics describes drug movement; pharmacodynamics describes drug effects.

Exam emphasis on pharmacology meetings

Most test questions come from pharmacology discussions and reviews.