Understanding Pharmacology Essentials for Medication Safety, 3rd Edition - All Chapters
Absorption Movement of a drug from the outside of the body into the blood stream.
Agonist An extrinsic drug that activates the receptor site of a cell and mimics the actions of
naturally occurring drugs.
Antagonist An extrinsic drug that blocks the receptor site of a cell, preventing the naturally
occurring substance from binding to the receptor.
Bioavailability The percentage of a drug dose that actually reaches the blood.
Black Box Warning A notice that a drug may produce serious or even life threatening effects in some
people in addition to its beneficial effects.
Cytoxic A drug action that is intended to kill a cell or organism.
Distribution The extent that a drug absorbed into the bloodstream spreads into the three body
water components.
Duration of Action The length of time a drug is present in the blood at or above the level needed to
produce an effect or response.
Extrinsic Drugs Drugs that are man made or derived from another species; not made by the human
body.
First pass loss Rapid inactivation or elimination of oral drugs as a result of liver metabolism.
Generic Name National and international public drug name created by the United States Adopted
NamesCouncil to indicate the usual use or chemical composition of a drug.
Half Life Time san needed for one half of a drug dose to be eliminated.
High Alert Drug A drug that has an increased risk of causing patient harm if it is used in error.
Loading Dose The first dose of a drug that is larger than all subsequent doses of the same drug;
used when it takes more drug to reach steady state that it does to maintain it.
Mechanism of Action Exactly how, at the cellular level, a drug changes the activity of a cell.
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, Understanding Pharmacology Essentials for Medication Safety, 3rd Edition - All Chapters
Minimum Effective The smallest amount of drug necessary in the blood or target tissue to result in a
Concentration measurable intended action.
Percutaneous Route Movement of a drug from the outside of the body to the inside through the skin or
mucous membranes.
Pharmacodynamics Ways in which drugs work to change body function.
Pharmacokinetics How the body changes drugs; drug metabolism.
Physiologic Effects The change in body function as an income of the mechanism of action off a drug.
Receptors Physical place on or in a cell where a drug can bind and interact.
Sequestration The trapping of drugs within certain body tissues, delaying their elimination and
extending their duration of action.
Steady State Point at which drug elimination is balance with drug entry, resulting in a constant
effective blood level of the drug.
Target Tissue The actual cells or tissues affected by the mechanism of action or intended actions
of a specific drug.
Transdermal Type of percutaneous drug delivery in which the drug is applied to the skin, passes
through the skin and enters the bloodstream.
Vaporized Changing of a drug from a liquid form to a gas that can be absorbed into the body
by inhalation.
A plan to improve or prevent a health problem that Drug therapy.
includes the use of drugs.
What factors does drug therapy involve? 1. Identifying the specific health problem.
2. Determining what drug or drugs would be the best treatment for the problem.
3. Deciding the best delivery method and schedule.
4. Ensuring that the proper amount of the drug is given.
5. Helping the patient become an active participant in his or her drug therapy.
What is the prescriber's role in drug therapy? To select and order specific drugs.
What are examples of state approved prescribers? Physicians, dentists, podiatrists, advanced practice nurses, and physician's
assistants.
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, Understanding Pharmacology Essentials for Medication Safety, 3rd Edition - All Chapters
What is the pharmacists role in drug therapy? To mix and dispense prescribed drugs.
What is the nurse's role in drug therapy? To administer drugs.
A desired effect of a drug. Intended action or therapeutic response.
Which name of a drug is commonly used by physicians, Generic
pharmacists, nurses, and other healthcare professionals?
Who creates the generic names for all drugs? United States Adopted Names (USAN)
Prefix that indicates lipid lowering effect in generic drugs. -statin
Prefix that indicates a beta-blocker. -olol
Give some examples of OTC drugs. Aspirin, antacids, vitamins, and antihistamines.
Which drugs have been reclassified as OTC? Benadryl, Zantac, and Prilosec
True or false, always ask a patient if they are taking an True
OTC drug daily.
True or false, each state has the ability to determine who True.
writes drug orders.
What does PINCH stand for? Potassium
Insulin
Narcotics
Chemotherapy
Heparin
If a person who is taking warfarin (Coumadin) also ingests Increases risk for brain hemorrhage.
white willow or gingko biloba, what will happen?
True or false, herbal medicines are always safe. False, herbal products can interfere with prescribed medications and produce
adverse effects.
Stinging nettle can cause what when taken with digoxin? Makes a normal dose of digoxin toxic. Stinging nettle can cause dehydration,
lowering cardiac output and BP.
Stuvia 2026-2027 | Latest Version
Absorption Movement of a drug from the outside of the body into the blood stream.
Agonist An extrinsic drug that activates the receptor site of a cell and mimics the actions of
naturally occurring drugs.
Antagonist An extrinsic drug that blocks the receptor site of a cell, preventing the naturally
occurring substance from binding to the receptor.
Bioavailability The percentage of a drug dose that actually reaches the blood.
Black Box Warning A notice that a drug may produce serious or even life threatening effects in some
people in addition to its beneficial effects.
Cytoxic A drug action that is intended to kill a cell or organism.
Distribution The extent that a drug absorbed into the bloodstream spreads into the three body
water components.
Duration of Action The length of time a drug is present in the blood at or above the level needed to
produce an effect or response.
Extrinsic Drugs Drugs that are man made or derived from another species; not made by the human
body.
First pass loss Rapid inactivation or elimination of oral drugs as a result of liver metabolism.
Generic Name National and international public drug name created by the United States Adopted
NamesCouncil to indicate the usual use or chemical composition of a drug.
Half Life Time san needed for one half of a drug dose to be eliminated.
High Alert Drug A drug that has an increased risk of causing patient harm if it is used in error.
Loading Dose The first dose of a drug that is larger than all subsequent doses of the same drug;
used when it takes more drug to reach steady state that it does to maintain it.
Mechanism of Action Exactly how, at the cellular level, a drug changes the activity of a cell.
Stuvia 2026-2027 | Latest Version
, Understanding Pharmacology Essentials for Medication Safety, 3rd Edition - All Chapters
Minimum Effective The smallest amount of drug necessary in the blood or target tissue to result in a
Concentration measurable intended action.
Percutaneous Route Movement of a drug from the outside of the body to the inside through the skin or
mucous membranes.
Pharmacodynamics Ways in which drugs work to change body function.
Pharmacokinetics How the body changes drugs; drug metabolism.
Physiologic Effects The change in body function as an income of the mechanism of action off a drug.
Receptors Physical place on or in a cell where a drug can bind and interact.
Sequestration The trapping of drugs within certain body tissues, delaying their elimination and
extending their duration of action.
Steady State Point at which drug elimination is balance with drug entry, resulting in a constant
effective blood level of the drug.
Target Tissue The actual cells or tissues affected by the mechanism of action or intended actions
of a specific drug.
Transdermal Type of percutaneous drug delivery in which the drug is applied to the skin, passes
through the skin and enters the bloodstream.
Vaporized Changing of a drug from a liquid form to a gas that can be absorbed into the body
by inhalation.
A plan to improve or prevent a health problem that Drug therapy.
includes the use of drugs.
What factors does drug therapy involve? 1. Identifying the specific health problem.
2. Determining what drug or drugs would be the best treatment for the problem.
3. Deciding the best delivery method and schedule.
4. Ensuring that the proper amount of the drug is given.
5. Helping the patient become an active participant in his or her drug therapy.
What is the prescriber's role in drug therapy? To select and order specific drugs.
What are examples of state approved prescribers? Physicians, dentists, podiatrists, advanced practice nurses, and physician's
assistants.
Stuvia 2026-2027 | Latest Version
, Understanding Pharmacology Essentials for Medication Safety, 3rd Edition - All Chapters
What is the pharmacists role in drug therapy? To mix and dispense prescribed drugs.
What is the nurse's role in drug therapy? To administer drugs.
A desired effect of a drug. Intended action or therapeutic response.
Which name of a drug is commonly used by physicians, Generic
pharmacists, nurses, and other healthcare professionals?
Who creates the generic names for all drugs? United States Adopted Names (USAN)
Prefix that indicates lipid lowering effect in generic drugs. -statin
Prefix that indicates a beta-blocker. -olol
Give some examples of OTC drugs. Aspirin, antacids, vitamins, and antihistamines.
Which drugs have been reclassified as OTC? Benadryl, Zantac, and Prilosec
True or false, always ask a patient if they are taking an True
OTC drug daily.
True or false, each state has the ability to determine who True.
writes drug orders.
What does PINCH stand for? Potassium
Insulin
Narcotics
Chemotherapy
Heparin
If a person who is taking warfarin (Coumadin) also ingests Increases risk for brain hemorrhage.
white willow or gingko biloba, what will happen?
True or false, herbal medicines are always safe. False, herbal products can interfere with prescribed medications and produce
adverse effects.
Stinging nettle can cause what when taken with digoxin? Makes a normal dose of digoxin toxic. Stinging nettle can cause dehydration,
lowering cardiac output and BP.
Stuvia 2026-2027 | Latest Version
