turley_6e_ch03_lecture_accessible

Chapter Overview

• Title: Understanding Pharmacology for Health Professionals

• Edition: Sixth Edition

• Focus: Prescriptions and Using Drugs Therapeutically

Learning Objectives

3.1 Prescription Definition

• A prescription is a written, computerized, electronic, or verbal order from a qualified healthcare provider to a pharmacist, specifying how to dispense a drug.

• Example: A physician-prescribed medication for a patient.

3.2 Prescription Filling Process

• Pharmacist's role in verifying, filling, and labeling prescriptions accurately.

• Importance of double-checking patient records.

3.3 Types of Drug Effects

• Understanding different types of effects medications have on patients.

3.4 Routes of Drug Administration

• Various methods for administering drugs, affecting effectiveness and absorption.

3.5 Latin Abbreviations

• Familiarity with common abbreviations used for routes of administration (e.g., PO for oral) and frequency of doses.

3.6 Drug Cycle Steps

• Overview of how drugs move through absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion.

3.7 Seven Rights of Drug Administration

• Identifying the seven critical elements to ensure safe drug administration.

3.8 Storage and Disposal

• Proper methods for storing and disposing of medications to maintain safety.

3.9 Mastery via Chapter Review

• Importance of completing exercises to demonstrate understanding of chapter content.

Prescriptions and Medication Orders

Definition of Prescription

• A formal order from a healthcare provider specifying drug dispensing instructions for a patient.

Types of Prescribers

• Only licensed professionals such as MDs, DOs, dentists, and physician assistants can prescribe medication.

Types and Components of Prescriptions

Handwritten Prescription

• Utilizes a provider's preprinted information and must be recorded in electronic health records.

Electronic Prescription

• Typed into medical software with digital signature for ease and accuracy, sent directly to pharmacies (e-prescribing).

Verbal Order

• Telephone orders verified by pharmacists to ensure accuracy and compliance.

Common Components of Prescriptions

• Includes provider and patient information, prescription date, drug name and strength, quantity, and usage directions.

Important Symbols and Terms

• Rx: Represents a prescription, derived from Latin "receipere."

Medication Orders

Overview

• Documentation of medication orders for patients in healthcare settings.

Types of Orders

• Stat orders: Immediate drug administration.

• Standing orders: Protocol for treating specific diseases.

• Automatic stop orders: Initiated by hospitals for controlled substances after certain periods.

Pharmacists' Responsibilities

Hospital Pharmacist

• Verifies orders, checks for allergies, dispenses medication, and provides consultation for patient care.

Community Pharmacist

• Fills prescriptions accurately and provides necessary patient information and warning labels.

The Basis of Drug Effects

Pharmacotherapy

• The use of drugs to produce desired therapeutic effects in the body.

Pharmacodynamics

• Mechanisms by which drugs exert their effects.

Types of Drug-receptor Interactions

Receptors

• Proteins that drugs interact with to elicit effects (the 'locks' which drugs ('keys') activate).

Agonist vs. Antagonist Drugs

• Agonist: Activates receptors to produce an effect.

• Antagonist: Blocks receptors, preventing natural hormones or drugs from acting.

Local vs. Systemic Effects

Local Effect

• Restricted to the administration site.

Systemic Effect

• Affects the entire body, often used in treating diseases.

Therapeutic Effects of Drugs

• Primary goals: Prevention, diagnosis, or treatment of diseases.

Side Effects and Adverse Effects

Types of Side Effects

• Vary from mild to severe and depend on the drug.

Adverse Effects (ADRs)

• Severe side effects potentially leading to drug recall or withdrawal from the market.

Drug Recalls

• Monitoring of drug safety post-approval, reasons include contamination or incorrect labeling.

Storage and Disposal of Drugs

Proper Storage

• Importance of avoiding heat and moisture; proper disposal methods are essential to avoid environmental contamination.

Disposal Methods

• Including recycling and pharmacy take-back programs.