GALEN NUR 210 EXAM 1 MODULES 1-3
QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT SOLUTIONS
1
,Pharmacokinetics ANSWER > The process in which medications move through the
body
What are the 4 phases of pharmacokinetics? ANSWER > absorption, distribution,
metabolism, excretion
Absorption ANSWER > happens with drug movement from the GI tract into the
bloodstream. Most meds are taken by mouth.
Oral absorption ANSWER > 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 ANSWER > Absorbed 1-2 hours
2
,IV absorption ANSWER > Absorbed 30-60 minutes
dissolution ANSWER > 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 ANSWER > 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 ANSWER > •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 ANSWER > Fillers and other substances that make up tablets as a pill is not
100% drug.
3
, 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 ANSWER > •the oral drugs go to liver via portal vein where some of the
drug becomes inactive
•Only happens with oral medications
delayed gastric emptying ANSWER > Food doesn't move like it should
Distribution ANSWER > refers to the movement of the drug from the circulation to body
tissues
Factors affecting distribution ANSWER > -blood flow to tissues
-protein binding
-blood brain barrier
-drug's affinity to the tissue
protein binding ANSWER > Drugs bind with proteins in blood
Some drugs are highly protein bound and other are weakly protein bound
free drugs ANSWER > drugs not bound to protein
4
QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT SOLUTIONS
1
,Pharmacokinetics ANSWER > The process in which medications move through the
body
What are the 4 phases of pharmacokinetics? ANSWER > absorption, distribution,
metabolism, excretion
Absorption ANSWER > happens with drug movement from the GI tract into the
bloodstream. Most meds are taken by mouth.
Oral absorption ANSWER > 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 ANSWER > Absorbed 1-2 hours
2
,IV absorption ANSWER > Absorbed 30-60 minutes
dissolution ANSWER > 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 ANSWER > 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 ANSWER > •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 ANSWER > Fillers and other substances that make up tablets as a pill is not
100% drug.
3
, 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 ANSWER > •the oral drugs go to liver via portal vein where some of the
drug becomes inactive
•Only happens with oral medications
delayed gastric emptying ANSWER > Food doesn't move like it should
Distribution ANSWER > refers to the movement of the drug from the circulation to body
tissues
Factors affecting distribution ANSWER > -blood flow to tissues
-protein binding
-blood brain barrier
-drug's affinity to the tissue
protein binding ANSWER > Drugs bind with proteins in blood
Some drugs are highly protein bound and other are weakly protein bound
free drugs ANSWER > drugs not bound to protein
4
