NUR521 Pharm Exam 1 Questions with Correct Answers Verified by Experts|Latest Update
What are the functions of the autonomic nervous system? The autonomic nervous system
has three principal functions:
(1) regulation of the heart
(2) regulation of secretory glands (salivary, gastric, sweat, and bronchial glands)
(3) regulation of smooth muscles (muscles of the bronchi, blood vessels, urogenital system, and
gastrointestinal [GI] tract).
What is BEERS criteria and why would you use it? The Beers Criteria is a list of potentially
harmful medications or medications with side effects that outweigh the benefit of taking the
medication in older adults.
When are pregnant women most susceptible to teratogenic drugs? First trimester
(embryonic period) most likely to cause malformations.
Preimplantation peiod - drugs act all or nothing fashion.
Fetal peiod (second and third trimester) disruptions occur in function rather than anatomy
What are ways to minimize drug concentrations in breast milk? Avoiding drugs that may
pose a risk (lipid soluable)
If not avoidable:
· Dosing immediately after breastfeeding (to minimize drug concentrations in milk at the next
feeding)
· Avoiding drugs that have a long half-life
· Avoiding sustained-release formulations
· Choosing drugs that tend to be excluded from milk
· Choosing drugs that are least likely to affect the infant
,What changes occur in organ function of older adults? How would this effect medications? -
absorption changes (increased gastric ph, decreased absorptive area, decreased gi motility,
delayed emptying)
-distribution changes (increased, fat, decreased lean mass, decreased body water, decreased
albumin, decreased cardiac output)
-metabolism changes (decreased hepatic blood flow and mass and activity of hepatic enzymes)
-excretion changes (decreased GFR, renal blood flow, number of nephrons)
What is the purpose of genetic testing? -Genetic testing is recommended to identify how a
patient will respond to a drug and not to design a drug specific to an individual.
-The purpose of pharmacogenomics is to combine the sciences of genomics and pharmacology
to provide individualized, targeted, safe drug therapies to patients
What factors contribute to medication errors? How can a provider minimize the risk for
medication errors? - prescribing practices (inappropriate drug selection, error in dose, lack
of clear labeling instructions, illegible writing)
-oversight (failure to keep UTD med list, failure to continue/dc meds, absence of med rec)
-communication (unclear instructions, unclear patient education)
What are ways to minimize adverse drug reactions? -becoming knowledgeable about the
types of adverse effects
-Monitor liver, kidney, and bone marrow function by obtaining lab work
-Monitor for signs and symptoms
-FDA special alerts
, Be able to define each of the four processes: absorption, distribution, metabolism, and
excretion. -Absorption is the drug's movement from its site of administration into the blood
or systemic circulation. The rate of absorption determines how fast effects take place. The
amount of absorption determines the intensity of the effects.
-Distribution is the drug's movement from the blood to the interstitial space of tissues and from
there into cells and to the site of drug action.
-Metabolism (biotransformation) is the enzymatically mediated alteration of drug structure.
-Excretion is the movement of drugs and their metabolites out of the body.
What is bioavailability? What are some factors that can affect bioavailability? Explain how the
same drug manufactured by different drug companies can have different absorption rates. -
Drug preparations are considered chemically equivalent if they contain the same amount of the
identical chemical compound (drug).
-Preparations are considered equal in bioavailability if the drug they contain is:
· absorbed at the same rate and to the same extent.
-It is possible for two formulations of the same drug to be chemically equivalent while differing
in bioavailability.
· This is why one brand of one drug may work faster or slower than another brand of the same
drug.
· The inactive ingredients used by drug companies are called binders and fillers....these
ingredients can dissolve at different rates affecting the bioavailability of the drug.
What happens when a patient takes a drug that is metabolized by P450 enzymes if an inducing
OR an inhibiting drug is added to the current drug regimen? Drugs that increase the rate of
drug metabolism are inducers.
Drugs that decrease the rate of drug metabolism are inhibitors.
What are the functions of the autonomic nervous system? The autonomic nervous system
has three principal functions:
(1) regulation of the heart
(2) regulation of secretory glands (salivary, gastric, sweat, and bronchial glands)
(3) regulation of smooth muscles (muscles of the bronchi, blood vessels, urogenital system, and
gastrointestinal [GI] tract).
What is BEERS criteria and why would you use it? The Beers Criteria is a list of potentially
harmful medications or medications with side effects that outweigh the benefit of taking the
medication in older adults.
When are pregnant women most susceptible to teratogenic drugs? First trimester
(embryonic period) most likely to cause malformations.
Preimplantation peiod - drugs act all or nothing fashion.
Fetal peiod (second and third trimester) disruptions occur in function rather than anatomy
What are ways to minimize drug concentrations in breast milk? Avoiding drugs that may
pose a risk (lipid soluable)
If not avoidable:
· Dosing immediately after breastfeeding (to minimize drug concentrations in milk at the next
feeding)
· Avoiding drugs that have a long half-life
· Avoiding sustained-release formulations
· Choosing drugs that tend to be excluded from milk
· Choosing drugs that are least likely to affect the infant
,What changes occur in organ function of older adults? How would this effect medications? -
absorption changes (increased gastric ph, decreased absorptive area, decreased gi motility,
delayed emptying)
-distribution changes (increased, fat, decreased lean mass, decreased body water, decreased
albumin, decreased cardiac output)
-metabolism changes (decreased hepatic blood flow and mass and activity of hepatic enzymes)
-excretion changes (decreased GFR, renal blood flow, number of nephrons)
What is the purpose of genetic testing? -Genetic testing is recommended to identify how a
patient will respond to a drug and not to design a drug specific to an individual.
-The purpose of pharmacogenomics is to combine the sciences of genomics and pharmacology
to provide individualized, targeted, safe drug therapies to patients
What factors contribute to medication errors? How can a provider minimize the risk for
medication errors? - prescribing practices (inappropriate drug selection, error in dose, lack
of clear labeling instructions, illegible writing)
-oversight (failure to keep UTD med list, failure to continue/dc meds, absence of med rec)
-communication (unclear instructions, unclear patient education)
What are ways to minimize adverse drug reactions? -becoming knowledgeable about the
types of adverse effects
-Monitor liver, kidney, and bone marrow function by obtaining lab work
-Monitor for signs and symptoms
-FDA special alerts
, Be able to define each of the four processes: absorption, distribution, metabolism, and
excretion. -Absorption is the drug's movement from its site of administration into the blood
or systemic circulation. The rate of absorption determines how fast effects take place. The
amount of absorption determines the intensity of the effects.
-Distribution is the drug's movement from the blood to the interstitial space of tissues and from
there into cells and to the site of drug action.
-Metabolism (biotransformation) is the enzymatically mediated alteration of drug structure.
-Excretion is the movement of drugs and their metabolites out of the body.
What is bioavailability? What are some factors that can affect bioavailability? Explain how the
same drug manufactured by different drug companies can have different absorption rates. -
Drug preparations are considered chemically equivalent if they contain the same amount of the
identical chemical compound (drug).
-Preparations are considered equal in bioavailability if the drug they contain is:
· absorbed at the same rate and to the same extent.
-It is possible for two formulations of the same drug to be chemically equivalent while differing
in bioavailability.
· This is why one brand of one drug may work faster or slower than another brand of the same
drug.
· The inactive ingredients used by drug companies are called binders and fillers....these
ingredients can dissolve at different rates affecting the bioavailability of the drug.
What happens when a patient takes a drug that is metabolized by P450 enzymes if an inducing
OR an inhibiting drug is added to the current drug regimen? Drugs that increase the rate of
drug metabolism are inducers.
Drugs that decrease the rate of drug metabolism are inhibitors.
