quiz 1 review
Nursing education for mothers taking meds while breastfeeding
• Some meds pass into breast milk and can affect the baby.
• Nurses should teach moms to:
• Take meds after breastfeeding (if possible).
• Choose meds that are safe for nursing.
• Monitor the baby for any unusual signs (like sleepiness, rash, poor feeding).Half-life of a medication
• Definition: The time it takes for half of the drug to leave the body.
• Calculation:
• Example: If 100mg is given and the half-life is 4 hours → 50mg will remain after 4 hours.Sublingual vs Buccal administration
• Sublingual: Med goes under the tongue, absorbed quickly into the blood.
• Buccal: Med goes between cheek and gum, absorbed slower than sublingual.
• Both avoid the stomach and liver (no “first-pass” effect).Therapeutic range and drug monitoring
• Therapeutic range: The safe and effective level of drug in the blood.
• Drug monitoring: Checking blood levels to make sure the drug is working but not toxic.Drug interactions
• Synergism: Two drugs work better together (1+1 = 3 effect).
• Additive effect: Two drugs just add up (1+1 = 2 effect).
• Displacement: One drug kicks another off a protein and changes effects.
• Antagonism: One drug blocks another drug’s effect.Aging and drugs
• Older adults have:
• Slower absorption.
• Less blood flow.
• Slower liver and kidney function (affects breakdown and excretion).
• Higher sensitivity to drugs.Idiosyncratic drug reaction
• An unusual or unexpected reaction to a drug (genetic or random).How drugs are excreted
• Mainly through the kidneys (urine).
• Also through liver (bile), lungs, sweat, and breast milk.Pharmacodynamics
• What the drug does to the body.
• How the drug works at the receptor sites.Generic vs Brand name drugs
• Generic: Same active ingredient, cheaper.
• Brand: Original version by the company, more expensive.
• They both work the same but might have different fillers.Routes of medication administration
• Oral: Swallowed, slowest absorption.
• Intramuscular (IM): Into muscle, faster than oral.
• Intravenous (IV): Direct to vein, fastest effect.
• Subcutaneous (SubQ): Into fat layer under skin, slower than IM.Phases of clinical trials
• Phase 1: Test safety on small group (healthy people).
• Phase 2: Test effectiveness on small group (with disease).
• Phase 3: Test large group (compare with other treatments).
• Phase 4: After approval, monitor long-term effects.Factors affecting absorption
• Food (some drugs need empty stomach, others need food).
• Blood flow.
• Acidity in the stomach.
• Other meds taken at same time.Pharmacokinetics
• What the body does to the drug:
• Liberation (release).
• Absorption (into blood).
• Distribution (to tissues).
• Metabolism (break down, mostly in liver).
• Excretion (get rid of, mostly by kidneys).Drug interaction
• When one drug affects how another drug works (makes it stronger, weaker, or toxic).Teratogen
• A drug that can harm a developing baby (cause birth defects).
• Examples: Thalidomide, isotretinoin (Accutane), some seizure meds.Organs for drug metabolism
• Liver is the main organ.
• Also, kidneys, lungs, intestines can help.Adverse drug reactions (ADRs)
• Harmful side effects that weren’t expected.
• Most at risk: Elderly, babies, people taking many meds (polypharmacy).Agonist vs Antagonist
• Agonist: Activates a receptor (makes the body do something).
• Antagonist: Blocks a receptor (stops something from happening).