NUR 117 Exam 1 Questions and Answers Already Passed
Define the word pharmacology - Answers Pharmacology is the study of the biological effects of
chemicals.
Differentiate between generic and brand-name drugs and OTC and prescription drugs - Answers Generic
drugs are the original designation that the drug was given when the drug company applied for the
approval process. OTC drugs are products that are available without prescription for self-treatment of a
variety of complaints (very safe when used as directed and useful). Name-Brand drugs are drugs given a
brand name by the pharmaceutical company that developed it.
List at least 6 factors that can influence the actual effectiveness of drugs in the body - Answers Weight,
age, gender, physiological factors, pathological factors, genetic factors, immunological factors,
psychological factors, environmental factors, drug tolerance, cumulative effect
Explain the meaning of half-life of a drug - Answers The half-life of a drug is the time it takes the amount
of a drug in the body to decrease to one half of the peak level it previously achieved
List 4 types of allergic responses to drug therapy - Answers Anaphylactic reaction (causes membrane
swelling and constricting that leads to respiratory distress/arrest), cytotoxic reaction (involves
antibodies that circulate in the blood and cause cell death), serum sickness reaction (Involves antibodies
that circulate in the blood and cause damage to various tissues by depositing in blood vessels), delayed
allergic reaction (involves antibodies that are bound to specific while blood cells)
Define the term adverse drug reaction and explain the clinical significance of this reaction - Answers Any
unexpected or dangerous reaction to a drug. An unwanted effect caused by the administration of a drug.
Clinically significant because it may be caused by side effects of the drug, the patients sensitivity to the
drug, the drugs actions on the body causing other responses, and the patient taking too little or too
much of the drug
Pharmacotherapeutics - Answers is pharmacology; chemicals that are used in medicine for the
treatment, prevention, and diagnosis of disease in humans.
(Clinical Pharmacology)
Pharmacodynamics - Answers Is the science of dealing with interactions between living organisms and
foreign chemicals. (Drug action)
Pharmacokinetics - Answers How the body acts on the drugs
Dynamic Equilibrium - Answers The actual amount of drug that reaches the body results for a dynamic
equilibrium.
Preclinical trials - Answers Chemicals tested on laboratory animals
Phase I studies - Answers Chemicals tested on human volunteers
, Phase II studies - Answers Drug tried on informed patients
Phase III studies - Answers Drug used in vast clinical market
Phase IV studies - Answers Continual evaluation of the drug
The Controlled Substance act of 1970 - Answers Control over the coding of drugs and enforcement of
these codes to the FDA and DEA. Prescription, distribution, storage and use of drugs are closely
monitored
Primary Actions - Answers Simple overdose. Suffers from effects that are merely an extension of the
desired effect
Secondary Actions - Answers Wide variety, the side effects of the drug. Patients need to be informed
about these effects
Hypersensitivity - Answers Patients who are excessively responsive to either the primary or secondary
effects of the drug. May result from a pathological or underlying condition that makes the drugs effects
especially unpleasant or dangerous
Rash/Hives - Answers Abnormalities in the skin, red area, blisters
Stomatitis - Answers Inflammation of the mucous membranes
Superinfection's - Answers Destruction of the body's normal flora. Fever, diarrhea, vaginal discharge
Blood dyscrasia - Answers Bone marrow suppression. Fever, chills, weakness
Liver toxicity - Answers Fever, nausea, jaundice, change in color of urine or stool, elevated liver enzymes
Kidney toxicity - Answers Change in urinary pattern, elevated BUN and creatinine
Poisoning - Answers When an overdose of a drug damages multiple body systems
Hypoglycemia - Answers Low serum blood glucose level
Hyperglycemia - Answers High serum glucose level
Hypokalemia - Answers Low serum potassium levels
Hyperkalemia - Answers High serum potassium levels
Ocular toxicity - Answers Visual changes. Some drugs are deposited into these tiny arteries causing
inflammation and tissue damage
Auditory Damage - Answers Damage to the eighth cranial nerve. Tiny vessels and nerves in the eighth
cranial nerve are easily irritated and damaged by certain drugs
Define the word pharmacology - Answers Pharmacology is the study of the biological effects of
chemicals.
Differentiate between generic and brand-name drugs and OTC and prescription drugs - Answers Generic
drugs are the original designation that the drug was given when the drug company applied for the
approval process. OTC drugs are products that are available without prescription for self-treatment of a
variety of complaints (very safe when used as directed and useful). Name-Brand drugs are drugs given a
brand name by the pharmaceutical company that developed it.
List at least 6 factors that can influence the actual effectiveness of drugs in the body - Answers Weight,
age, gender, physiological factors, pathological factors, genetic factors, immunological factors,
psychological factors, environmental factors, drug tolerance, cumulative effect
Explain the meaning of half-life of a drug - Answers The half-life of a drug is the time it takes the amount
of a drug in the body to decrease to one half of the peak level it previously achieved
List 4 types of allergic responses to drug therapy - Answers Anaphylactic reaction (causes membrane
swelling and constricting that leads to respiratory distress/arrest), cytotoxic reaction (involves
antibodies that circulate in the blood and cause cell death), serum sickness reaction (Involves antibodies
that circulate in the blood and cause damage to various tissues by depositing in blood vessels), delayed
allergic reaction (involves antibodies that are bound to specific while blood cells)
Define the term adverse drug reaction and explain the clinical significance of this reaction - Answers Any
unexpected or dangerous reaction to a drug. An unwanted effect caused by the administration of a drug.
Clinically significant because it may be caused by side effects of the drug, the patients sensitivity to the
drug, the drugs actions on the body causing other responses, and the patient taking too little or too
much of the drug
Pharmacotherapeutics - Answers is pharmacology; chemicals that are used in medicine for the
treatment, prevention, and diagnosis of disease in humans.
(Clinical Pharmacology)
Pharmacodynamics - Answers Is the science of dealing with interactions between living organisms and
foreign chemicals. (Drug action)
Pharmacokinetics - Answers How the body acts on the drugs
Dynamic Equilibrium - Answers The actual amount of drug that reaches the body results for a dynamic
equilibrium.
Preclinical trials - Answers Chemicals tested on laboratory animals
Phase I studies - Answers Chemicals tested on human volunteers
, Phase II studies - Answers Drug tried on informed patients
Phase III studies - Answers Drug used in vast clinical market
Phase IV studies - Answers Continual evaluation of the drug
The Controlled Substance act of 1970 - Answers Control over the coding of drugs and enforcement of
these codes to the FDA and DEA. Prescription, distribution, storage and use of drugs are closely
monitored
Primary Actions - Answers Simple overdose. Suffers from effects that are merely an extension of the
desired effect
Secondary Actions - Answers Wide variety, the side effects of the drug. Patients need to be informed
about these effects
Hypersensitivity - Answers Patients who are excessively responsive to either the primary or secondary
effects of the drug. May result from a pathological or underlying condition that makes the drugs effects
especially unpleasant or dangerous
Rash/Hives - Answers Abnormalities in the skin, red area, blisters
Stomatitis - Answers Inflammation of the mucous membranes
Superinfection's - Answers Destruction of the body's normal flora. Fever, diarrhea, vaginal discharge
Blood dyscrasia - Answers Bone marrow suppression. Fever, chills, weakness
Liver toxicity - Answers Fever, nausea, jaundice, change in color of urine or stool, elevated liver enzymes
Kidney toxicity - Answers Change in urinary pattern, elevated BUN and creatinine
Poisoning - Answers When an overdose of a drug damages multiple body systems
Hypoglycemia - Answers Low serum blood glucose level
Hyperglycemia - Answers High serum glucose level
Hypokalemia - Answers Low serum potassium levels
Hyperkalemia - Answers High serum potassium levels
Ocular toxicity - Answers Visual changes. Some drugs are deposited into these tiny arteries causing
inflammation and tissue damage
Auditory Damage - Answers Damage to the eighth cranial nerve. Tiny vessels and nerves in the eighth
cranial nerve are easily irritated and damaged by certain drugs
