PORTAGE LEARNING NURS 251
PHARMACOLOGY MODULE 1 2026 REVISION
WORKBOOK COMPREHENSIVE NOTES A+
◉ drug. Answer: any chemical that affects the physiologic processes
of a living organism
◉ effects of drugs on the body. Answer: 1. therapeutic effects
2. side effects
3. adverse effects
4. toxic effects
◉ Therapeutic effect. Answer: desired drug effect to alleviate some
condition or symptom of disease
◉ side effects. Answer: drug effects other than the therapeutic
effect; usually undesirable but not harmful
◉ adverse effect. Answer: general term for undesirable and
potentially harmful drug effect
, ◉ toxic effect. Answer: undesirable drug effect that implies drug
poisoning; can be very harmful or life-threatening
◉ mechanism of action. Answer: how a drug produces its effects
◉ site of action. Answer: location within the body where a drug
exerts its therapeutic effect, often a specific drug receptor
◉ receptors. Answer: specific cellular structures that a drug binds to
in order to produce a physiologic effect
◉ agonist. Answer: works to activate a physiologic response or drug
effect
◉ antagonist. Answer: works to interfere with other drugs or
substances from a producing a drug effect
◉ dose-dependent relationship. Answer: the response to any drug
depends on the amount of drug given
◉ dose. Answer: exact amount of drug that is given
◉ onset of action. Answer: time from when the drug is administered
to the first observable effect
PHARMACOLOGY MODULE 1 2026 REVISION
WORKBOOK COMPREHENSIVE NOTES A+
◉ drug. Answer: any chemical that affects the physiologic processes
of a living organism
◉ effects of drugs on the body. Answer: 1. therapeutic effects
2. side effects
3. adverse effects
4. toxic effects
◉ Therapeutic effect. Answer: desired drug effect to alleviate some
condition or symptom of disease
◉ side effects. Answer: drug effects other than the therapeutic
effect; usually undesirable but not harmful
◉ adverse effect. Answer: general term for undesirable and
potentially harmful drug effect
, ◉ toxic effect. Answer: undesirable drug effect that implies drug
poisoning; can be very harmful or life-threatening
◉ mechanism of action. Answer: how a drug produces its effects
◉ site of action. Answer: location within the body where a drug
exerts its therapeutic effect, often a specific drug receptor
◉ receptors. Answer: specific cellular structures that a drug binds to
in order to produce a physiologic effect
◉ agonist. Answer: works to activate a physiologic response or drug
effect
◉ antagonist. Answer: works to interfere with other drugs or
substances from a producing a drug effect
◉ dose-dependent relationship. Answer: the response to any drug
depends on the amount of drug given
◉ dose. Answer: exact amount of drug that is given
◉ onset of action. Answer: time from when the drug is administered
to the first observable effect
