Galen NUR 210 Exam 1 Modules 1-3
Questions and Answers with Verified
Solutions | Latest Updated 2026
Pharmacokinetics The process in which medications move
through
the body
What are the 4 phases of absorption, distribution, metabolism,
pharmacokinetics? excretion
Absorption happens with drug movement from the GI
tract into
the bloodstream. Most meds are taken by
mouth.
Oral absorption Takes awhile to get absorbed because it
has to go
through the GI system
Usually takes 2-4 hours
•Enteric coated
aspirin - hard on stomach
can not crush pill
•Extended release
absorbed in the small intestine
IM absorption Absorbed 1-2 hours
,IV absorption Absorbed 30-60 minutes
dissolution Dissolution happens when a po medication
breaks
down into particles, disintegrates, and
dissolves to
combine with liquid so absorption from the
GI tract
into the bloodstream occurs.
Liquid medications are absorbed faster
than solids.
Food can interfere with the absorption of
drugs.
Drugs that resist dissolution Parenteral medications (SL, eyedrops,
inhalants,
transdermal) do not pass through the GI
tract.
Enteric coated medications are designed
to resist
disintegration until the pill reaches the
small
intestine. EC and sustained release meds
should
not be crushed.
,Factors that affect absorption •Lack of muscle and increased fat changes
medicine absorption
•Food consumption - will change medicine
potency (delayed)
•Stress - Exercise, medicine goes to
muscle
•pH - Medicine is made for acidic
environments
•Antacid changes absorption
•Taken alone so it doesn't change the
action
Excipients Fillers and other substances that make up
tablets as
a pill is not 100% drug.
Sometimes an excipient enhances the
absorption
of a drug such as with PCN, which is not
well
absorbed from the GI tract.
Adding Na to PCN, which makes it
penicillin
sodium, will increase the absorption of
PCN
first pass effect •the oral drugs go to liver via portal vein
where
some of the drug becomes inactive
•Only happens with oral medications
delayed gastric emptying Food doesn't move like it should
, Distribution refers to the movement of the drug from
the
circulation to body tissues
Factors affecting distribution -blood flow to tissues
-protein binding
-blood brain barrier
-drug's affinity to the tissue
protein binding Drugs bind with proteins in blood
Some drugs are highly protein bound and
other
are weakly protein bound
free drugs drugs not bound to protein
Drug Toxicity -Two highly protein bound drugs compete
and one
might accumulate and cause a toxicity
-it is important to know if you are
administering
highly protein bound medications and
monitor
albumin levels in patients with liver or
kidney
disease.
-Some drugs that are highly protein bound
include:
Warfarin
Furosemide
Diazepam
Questions and Answers with Verified
Solutions | Latest Updated 2026
Pharmacokinetics The process in which medications move
through
the body
What are the 4 phases of absorption, distribution, metabolism,
pharmacokinetics? excretion
Absorption happens with drug movement from the GI
tract into
the bloodstream. Most meds are taken by
mouth.
Oral absorption Takes awhile to get absorbed because it
has to go
through the GI system
Usually takes 2-4 hours
•Enteric coated
aspirin - hard on stomach
can not crush pill
•Extended release
absorbed in the small intestine
IM absorption Absorbed 1-2 hours
,IV absorption Absorbed 30-60 minutes
dissolution Dissolution happens when a po medication
breaks
down into particles, disintegrates, and
dissolves to
combine with liquid so absorption from the
GI tract
into the bloodstream occurs.
Liquid medications are absorbed faster
than solids.
Food can interfere with the absorption of
drugs.
Drugs that resist dissolution Parenteral medications (SL, eyedrops,
inhalants,
transdermal) do not pass through the GI
tract.
Enteric coated medications are designed
to resist
disintegration until the pill reaches the
small
intestine. EC and sustained release meds
should
not be crushed.
,Factors that affect absorption •Lack of muscle and increased fat changes
medicine absorption
•Food consumption - will change medicine
potency (delayed)
•Stress - Exercise, medicine goes to
muscle
•pH - Medicine is made for acidic
environments
•Antacid changes absorption
•Taken alone so it doesn't change the
action
Excipients Fillers and other substances that make up
tablets as
a pill is not 100% drug.
Sometimes an excipient enhances the
absorption
of a drug such as with PCN, which is not
well
absorbed from the GI tract.
Adding Na to PCN, which makes it
penicillin
sodium, will increase the absorption of
PCN
first pass effect •the oral drugs go to liver via portal vein
where
some of the drug becomes inactive
•Only happens with oral medications
delayed gastric emptying Food doesn't move like it should
, Distribution refers to the movement of the drug from
the
circulation to body tissues
Factors affecting distribution -blood flow to tissues
-protein binding
-blood brain barrier
-drug's affinity to the tissue
protein binding Drugs bind with proteins in blood
Some drugs are highly protein bound and
other
are weakly protein bound
free drugs drugs not bound to protein
Drug Toxicity -Two highly protein bound drugs compete
and one
might accumulate and cause a toxicity
-it is important to know if you are
administering
highly protein bound medications and
monitor
albumin levels in patients with liver or
kidney
disease.
-Some drugs that are highly protein bound
include:
Warfarin
Furosemide
Diazepam
