Study Guide for NR 293 Exam 1 1
Chapter 2
Define the common terms used in pharmacology
o Pharmacokinetic- the study of what the body does to the drug; involves the processes of absorption,
distribution, metabolism, and excretion
o Pharmacodynamics- the study of what the drug does to the body; involves drug–receptor relationships.
o First-pass effect- initial metabolism in the liver of a drug absorbed from the GI tract before the drug
reaches systemic circulation through the bloodstream
o Bioavaibility- a measure of the extent of a drug absorption for a given drug and route (from 0% to
100%)
o Protein-binding
o Onset of action- time required for a drug to elicit a therapeutic response after dosings
o Peak Effect – the time required for a drug to reach its max. Therapeutic response
o Duration of action- the length of time the concentration of a drug in the blood or tissues is sufficient to
elicit a response
o Half-life – in pharmacokinetics, the time required for half of an administered dose of drug to be
eliminated by the body, or the time it takes for the blood level of a drug to be reduced
o Therapeutic index- ratio between toxic and therapeutic concentrations of a drug
o Trough level- lowest blood level; the lowest concentration of a drug reached in the body after it falls
from its peak level, usually measured in blood sample for therapeutic drug monitoring
o Peak level- highest blood level. Concentration of a drug in the body after administration, usually
measured in a blood sample for therapeutic drug monitoring.
o Agonist- drug that binds to and stimulates the activity of one or more receptors in the body
o Antagonist- drug that binds to and inhibits the activity of one or more receptors in the body; also called
inhibitors
Type of therapy:
o Acute therapy- often involves more intensive drug treatment and implemented in acutely ill (those with
rapid onset of illness) or critically ill; often needed to sustain life or treat disease
Ex: vasopressors to maintain BP and cardiac output after open heart surgery
Ex: intensive chemotherapy for pt with newly diagnosed cancer
o Maintenance therapy- doesn’t eradicate problems the pt may already have but will prevent progression
of a disease or condition; used for treatment of chronic illnesses
, Ex: HTN it will maintain the pt’s BP within given limits which prevents certain end-organ 2
damage
Ex: oral contraceptives for birth control
o Supplemental therapy- or replacement therapy; supplies body with a substance needed to maintain
normal function; substance may be needed bc it cannot be made by the body or bc it is produced in
insufficient quantity
Ex: administration of insulin to diabetic pt’s
Ex: iron to pts w/ iron-deficiency anemia
o Palliative therapy- make pt as comfortable as possible; focuses on providing pts w/ relief from
symptoms, pain, and stress of a serious illness; goal is to improve quality of life for both pt and family;
typically used in the end stages of an illness when attempts at curative therapy have failed; it can be
provided along with curative treatment
Ex: use of high dose opioid analgesics to relieve pain in the final stages of cancer
o Supportive therapy- maintains integrity of body functions while the pt is recovering from
illness/trauma
Ex: provision of fluids and electrolytes to prevent dehydration in a pt w/ influenza who is
vomiting and has diarrhea
Ex: administration of fluids, volume expanders, or blood products to a pt who lost blood during
surgery
o Prophylactic therapy- treatment with antibiotics to prevent an infection, as in intraabdominal surgery
or after trauma
Ex: preoperative antibiotic therapy for surgical procedures. Antibiotic given before incision is
made so antibiotic can kill any potential pathogens
o Empiric therapy- treatment of an infection before specific culture information has been reported or
obtained
o Definite therapy- the administration of antibiotics based on known results of culture and sensitivity
testing identifying the pathogen causing infection
Drug interactions:
o Additive effect- (1+1=2) when two drugs with similar actions are given together bc their additive
effects so smaller doses of each drug can be given
Ex: combinations of analgesic products antihistamine and opioid combinations (promethazine
and codeine) for treatment of cold symptoms
Ex: acetaminophen and opioid combinations (acetaminophen and oxycodone) for treatment of
pain
o Synergistic effect- when two drugs administered together interact in such a way that their combined
effects are greater than the sum of the effects for each drug given alone (1+1 = greater than 2)
Chapter 2
Define the common terms used in pharmacology
o Pharmacokinetic- the study of what the body does to the drug; involves the processes of absorption,
distribution, metabolism, and excretion
o Pharmacodynamics- the study of what the drug does to the body; involves drug–receptor relationships.
o First-pass effect- initial metabolism in the liver of a drug absorbed from the GI tract before the drug
reaches systemic circulation through the bloodstream
o Bioavaibility- a measure of the extent of a drug absorption for a given drug and route (from 0% to
100%)
o Protein-binding
o Onset of action- time required for a drug to elicit a therapeutic response after dosings
o Peak Effect – the time required for a drug to reach its max. Therapeutic response
o Duration of action- the length of time the concentration of a drug in the blood or tissues is sufficient to
elicit a response
o Half-life – in pharmacokinetics, the time required for half of an administered dose of drug to be
eliminated by the body, or the time it takes for the blood level of a drug to be reduced
o Therapeutic index- ratio between toxic and therapeutic concentrations of a drug
o Trough level- lowest blood level; the lowest concentration of a drug reached in the body after it falls
from its peak level, usually measured in blood sample for therapeutic drug monitoring
o Peak level- highest blood level. Concentration of a drug in the body after administration, usually
measured in a blood sample for therapeutic drug monitoring.
o Agonist- drug that binds to and stimulates the activity of one or more receptors in the body
o Antagonist- drug that binds to and inhibits the activity of one or more receptors in the body; also called
inhibitors
Type of therapy:
o Acute therapy- often involves more intensive drug treatment and implemented in acutely ill (those with
rapid onset of illness) or critically ill; often needed to sustain life or treat disease
Ex: vasopressors to maintain BP and cardiac output after open heart surgery
Ex: intensive chemotherapy for pt with newly diagnosed cancer
o Maintenance therapy- doesn’t eradicate problems the pt may already have but will prevent progression
of a disease or condition; used for treatment of chronic illnesses
, Ex: HTN it will maintain the pt’s BP within given limits which prevents certain end-organ 2
damage
Ex: oral contraceptives for birth control
o Supplemental therapy- or replacement therapy; supplies body with a substance needed to maintain
normal function; substance may be needed bc it cannot be made by the body or bc it is produced in
insufficient quantity
Ex: administration of insulin to diabetic pt’s
Ex: iron to pts w/ iron-deficiency anemia
o Palliative therapy- make pt as comfortable as possible; focuses on providing pts w/ relief from
symptoms, pain, and stress of a serious illness; goal is to improve quality of life for both pt and family;
typically used in the end stages of an illness when attempts at curative therapy have failed; it can be
provided along with curative treatment
Ex: use of high dose opioid analgesics to relieve pain in the final stages of cancer
o Supportive therapy- maintains integrity of body functions while the pt is recovering from
illness/trauma
Ex: provision of fluids and electrolytes to prevent dehydration in a pt w/ influenza who is
vomiting and has diarrhea
Ex: administration of fluids, volume expanders, or blood products to a pt who lost blood during
surgery
o Prophylactic therapy- treatment with antibiotics to prevent an infection, as in intraabdominal surgery
or after trauma
Ex: preoperative antibiotic therapy for surgical procedures. Antibiotic given before incision is
made so antibiotic can kill any potential pathogens
o Empiric therapy- treatment of an infection before specific culture information has been reported or
obtained
o Definite therapy- the administration of antibiotics based on known results of culture and sensitivity
testing identifying the pathogen causing infection
Drug interactions:
o Additive effect- (1+1=2) when two drugs with similar actions are given together bc their additive
effects so smaller doses of each drug can be given
Ex: combinations of analgesic products antihistamine and opioid combinations (promethazine
and codeine) for treatment of cold symptoms
Ex: acetaminophen and opioid combinations (acetaminophen and oxycodone) for treatment of
pain
o Synergistic effect- when two drugs administered together interact in such a way that their combined
effects are greater than the sum of the effects for each drug given alone (1+1 = greater than 2)
