Galen College of Nursing NUR 210 Principles of Pharmacology Exams 1-4 Complete Review Guide (All-in-One PDF) | Latest Updated | Exam Prep, Study Guide.

Galen NUR 210 Principles Of Pharmacology Exams 1-4 Complete
Review Guides (all in 1 pdf) | latest Updated 2026-2027 | A+ Guide.
PHARMACOLOGY UNIT 1 NOTES
 Pharmacodynamics – how does it work on you?
 Pharmacokinetics – how does it move through you?
 Pharmacokinetic Phases:
o 1. Absorption – through GI tract into vascular
o 2. Distribution – via bloodstream to organs/receptors/extremities
o 3. Metabolism – hepatic/splenic
o 4. Excretion – renal

ANTIPSYCHOTICS AND ANXIOLYTICS
 Typical and Atypical
 PEARL: Acetylcholine has grossly inhibitory effects on movement, and dopamine has grossly
excitatory effects on movement.
 Treatment for Psychosis
o Psychosis S/S
 Loss of perception of reality
 Hallucinations +
 Delusions +
 Catatonia -
 Anhedonia –
 Self-care deficit –
 Social withdrawal -
 Positive – exaggeration of normal function
 Negative – loss of normal function
 Atypical Antipsychotics
o Newer
o Fewer side effects
o Decreased dopamine and serotonin
o Increased cost
o EPS
o Aripiprazole, Zyprexa, etc.
 Typical Antipsychotics
o Extrapyramidal symptoms
o Been in use longer
o Decrease dopamine
o Inexpensive
o More side effects/adverse reactions
o Can cause metabolic syndrome - high cholesterol, high bp, high bg
o Haloperidol, Geodon

,  Haloperidol (Haldol)
Antipsychotic (butyrophenone)
o Action: block dopamine receptors
o Use: treat psychosis, ADHD, Tourette’s
o Side effects: drowsiness, headaches, photosensitivity, urinary retention,
orthostatic hypotension, sexual dysfunction
o Adverse reactions: tachycardia, EPS, NMS, blood dyscrasias
o Contraindications: narrow-angle glaucoma, CNS depression, severe renal,
hepatic, cardiac disease, Parkinson’s disease, blood dyscrasias
o Interactions: increased sedation with alcohol, CNS depressants

 Aripiprazole (Abilify)
Atypical antipsychotic (quinolonone)
o Action: blocks serotonin and dopaminergic receptors
o Use: positive and negative psychotic symptoms
o Side Effects: orthostatic hypotension, drowsiness, headache, tremor,
constipation, cough
o Adverse Reactions: EPS, NMS,
o Contraindications: dysrhythmias, blood dyscrasias, liver damage, diabetes,
Parkinson’s
o Interactions: increases the effect of hypertensives, diabetic drugs, other
antipsychotics, grapefruit juice, St. John’s Wort


NEUROLEPTIC MALIGNANT SYNDROME (NMS)
**Autonomic nervous system instability d/t prolonged antagonism of dopamine
receptors**
o S/S: Diaphoresis, labile bp, tachypnea, flushing, pallor, incontinence, AMS,
muscle rigidity, rhabdomyolysis, respiratory failure, hyperthermia
o Agitation and exhaustion of predisposing factors
o Potentially fatal
o TREATMENT:
 Hydration, Behr hugger, discontinuation of antipsychotic
BLOOD DYSCRASIAS
- Imbalance of WBC, RBC, other blood products (ex. leukopenia, neutropenia,
thrombocytopenia)
- CBC and CMP can detect these

,EXTRAPYRAMIDAL SYNDROME
- S/S: stooped posture, facial rigidity, tremors at rest, shuffling gait, pill-rolling hand
motions, bradykinesia
- Acute Dystonia
o S/S: Involuntary contractions of muscles in extremities, face, neck, abdomen,
pelvis, larynx (laryngeal dystonia can be life-threatening)
o Dopaminergic-cholinergic imbalance in the basal ganglia
o Anticholinergic agents and benzodiazepines used to reverse or reduce symptoms

PHARMACOLOGY UNIT 1 PART 2
 Pharmacokinetics
How does the drug move through you?
o Disintegration
 Breakdown starts in the mouth
 Time varies by compound, product, and pH of secretions
 Enteric coated – takes longer to disintegrate; protective of gastric mucosa
o Dissolution
 Drug particles combine with saliva/gastric liquid to form a solution
o Drug Absorption
 Drug movement -> GI tract -> bloodstream
 Factors Affecting Absorption
 Pain, stress, exercise
 Body composition
 Blood circulation
 Fat content, temperature
 pH
 Route of administration
 Factors Affecting Oral Administration
 First Pass Effect
o Metabolization of drug through the liver, lungs,
vasculature, GI tract, etc. before reaching the intended
receptors or systemic circulation
o Reduces the amount of the active drug available
o Varies between patients
 Bioavailability

, o How much of the drug is available to do the intended
effect
o Factors Affecting Bioavailability
 Absorption
 First pass effect
 Drug form
 Route
 Gastric mucosa and motility
 Administration with food or other drugs
 Changes in liver metabolism
 Protein binding
 Competition for receptors
 Nutrition (low protein, anorexia, cachectic,
hydration status)


 High Protein Binding Drugs (over 90% of the drug binds to a protein)
o Warfarin, Sertraline, Furosemide, Diazepam, etc.
 Weak Protein Binding Drugs (less than 10% of the drug binds to a protein)
o Gentamycin, Metformin, Metoprolol, Lisinopril, etc.
 **If two highly competitive protein binding drugs are given at the same time = less of
the desired effect for both drugs d/t competition = more free drugs in system = toxicity
in patient**


 DRUG METABOLISM
o The process of the body chemically changing the drug into a form that can be
excreted
o Liver is the primary site of drug metabolism
o Half-life - the amount of time it takes for the drug in the body to be reduced by
half
o Loading Dose – bolus – a single larger dose of a medication to treat s/s. Drug
level maintained by therapeutic dosing

 DRUG EXCRETION
o Elimination of the drug through the urinary tract
o Kidneys are the primary site of excretion.
 Can also occur through saliva, sweat, expiration, breastmilk, feces, bile
o Creatinine clearance (CrCl) – the volume of blood plasma cleared of creatinine
per unit of time.