QUESTIONDS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS
Peak
Highest concentration in blood (max effect)
Half-life
Length of time needed to decrease drug plasma concentration by half (50%)
Therapeutic classification
Intended use of drug, treat specific illness
Ex. Antianginal for chest pain
Pharmacologic classification
Mechanism of action, how it works
Ex. beta blockers block effects of epinephrine (adrenaline)
First Pass effect
Medication goes through liver to be metabolized, then goes out to rest of the
body
-IV medications bypass this effect
Potency
Strength of drug itself, to get to desired effect
-Higher potency at lower dose to reach full effect
Metabolism
Chemical processing medication changes to another form. Must be considered
when determining best route of administration
, Loading dose
Initial, high dose, at first to get drug into body system & act right away
Maintenance dose
Administering a steady amount to keep patient at a therapeutic level
Efficacy
The maximum response that can be achieved with a drug
Aspirin (Anti-inflammatory)
Salicylate and belongs to the non steroid anti-inflammatory drug class
-COX inhibitor
For overdose give: Activated charcoal or large amounts of laxatives
Ibuprofen
Anti-pyretic, NSAID, inhibits Prostaglandin synthesis
-Focus on GI bleeds
For overdose give: Sodium Bicarb or charcoal
Prednisone
Anti-finlammatory / corticosteroids
Long term: Cushing's syndrome, hyperglycemia, bones easily fractured, ulcers,
insomnia, fetal harm, cataracts, glaucoma
-Recommended 4-10 days, past that, will need to taper off
-Do NOT use for acute infection
Must know about Aspirin
-Do not give to children! Causes Reyes syndrome.
-Can be Ototoxic (tinnitus), GI discomfort and bleeding, Nephrotoxicity = tough on
kidneys, blood sugar levels
-Stop taking 7 days before surgery
Acetaminophen