Final Exam Blueprint
Prescribing Basics: 2 questions
Prescriptive authority regulated by the state BON in each state.
Tall man lettering to highlight dissimilaries with look-alike names
*Prescription contains… Physicians Name, Address, and telephone number are required to be included in
the prescription. DEA number (two letters, five numbers) if the prescription is for controlled substance,
Patient name and DOB (also may include address and weight), Date Rx is written (expires 1 year after
date issued), Name of drug and strength- avoid trailing zeroes, use leading zeroes, Directions with
indications/route of administration and frequency, write out number of refills, quantity of drug,
signature, NPI number (9 or 11 numbers), sign as A-PNP or role recognized by the BON
Drug schedules – one is most addictive, up to schedule 5.
1) heroin, LSD, marijuana.
2) oxycodone, hydrocodone, methamphetamines.
3) codeine, ketamine, testosterone.
4) Xanax, valium, ambien, tramadol.
5) antidiarrheal, antitussives, Lomotil, lyrica.
*calculation question
Pharmacology Principles: 3 questions
Pharmacodynamics – effect of drugs on body. Works by receptors. Usually proteins that interact with
drugs.
Agonist – produce receptor stimulation, conformational change every time they bind.
Partial agonist – properties between agonists and antagonists. Submaximal effect. Stimulate only some
of the receptors.
Antagonist – affinity for receptor but NO intrinsic activity. Affinity allows antagonist to bind to receptors,
but lack of intrinsic activity prevents receptor activation. Blocks action of drugs (example Narcan).
Therapeutic range – between minimum effective concentration and toxic concentration. Working
effectivity with no toxicity or adverse effects. Wider therapeutic range is better! Easiest to control.
Bioavailability – percentage of dose of drug that survives first pass through liver and reaches blood
stream.
Half life – time required for amount of drug to decline by 50%. Shorter half life admin more frequently.
4.5-5 half lives to get to steady state and to eliminate from body.
1
,Pharmacokinetics – what body does to drug. Absorption, distribution, metabolism, elimination. (ADME)
Parenteral (bypass first pass), then oral, then lungs, then skin, eye and ears for best absorption.
Distribution affected by lipid/water solubility, PH, protein binding, size of molecule.
Protein binding – unbound drug is free drug which is active. When 2 highly bound drugs are given it
increases the level of one of the drugs, leading to toxicity. IE warfarin and phenytoin are both highly
protein bound. Low plasma protein result in more free drug. May be in elderly, so decrease dose of
medication. T3 and T4 both highly protein bound. 1% of drug is powerful.
Distribution – BBB (only lipid soluble will pass) – these such as narcotics, only work because they do
cross BBB. Some meds we do not want to pass. Placental barrier (many drugs can pass) so be careful
with drugs in pregnancy.
Metabolism – liver. Chemical change of a drug structure to enhance excretion, inactivate drug, increase
therapeutic action, activate prodrug, increase or decrease toxicity.
Substrate – agent that is metabolized by an enzyme into a metabolite and product and eventually
excreted.
*Inhibitors – compete with other drugs for a particular enzyme affecting the metabolism (decreases) of
the substrate and decreases the excretion of the substrate and increasing the circulating drug. Need to
decrease dose of substrate if start on an inhibitor. INH increases substrate.
*Inducer – competes with other drugs for a particular enzyme affecting metabolism of the substrate
(increases) decreasing the efficacy of the drug. Need to increase dose of substrate if start on an inducer.
IND decreases substrate.
Renal excretion – passive glomerular filtration, active tubular secretion, tubular reabsorption.
Pharmacogenomics: 1 question
Pharmacogenomics- the study of the influence of hereditary factors on the response of individual
organism to drugs, and the study of variations of DNA and RNA characteristics as related to drug
response.
Pharmacogenetic tests mentioned on drug labels can be classified as “test required”, “test
recommended”, and “information only”. Currently there are 4 drugs requiring to have pharmacogenetic
testing performed before they are prescribed: Cetuximab, Trastuzumab, Maraviroc, and Dasatinib.
No genetic testing is required by the FDA for the initiation of medications such as warfarin,
carbamazepine, valproic avid and abacavir are currently in place, such tests are recommended prior to
initial dosing.
BBW initiated in December 2007- on carbamazepine label – testing recommended for HLA-B 1502 in
patient with Asian ancestry due to high risk of developing SJS or toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN).
Drugs across the lifespan: 3 questions
2
,Lack of evidence-based literature on safe and effective use of meds in children.
Neonates at greater risk for toxicity with highly protein-bound drugs because protein binding decreased,
increasing amount of free drug available.
Adult level of renal function achieved at 12 months.
Most accurate device for measuring liquid dose for child – oral syringe.
*lifespan changes in elderly- watch for Cholenergic SE, Neuro SE, sedative SE
Prevent medication errors – write out the term daily, no zeros after decimal point.
Drug sensitivity in the very young results from immature organs, in elderly from organ system
degeneration.
Pediatric organ immaturity – at risk for elevated drug levels, delayed elimination.
Gastric acidity does not reach adult values for 2 years.
Elderly drug complications due to altered pharmacokinetics, multiple and severe illnesses, multiple-drug
therapy, poor adherence.
Altered absorption of drugs in elderly result in delayed drug response.
Four factors that alter drug distribution in elderly – increased body fat, decreased lean body mass,
decreased body water, reduced serum albumin
Nalidixic acid may cause cartilage erosion in children.
Fluoroquinolones in pediatric – tendon rupture.
Reduced albumin causes free drug to rise.
Elderly, proper index of renal function is creatinine clearance. Then GFR.
Increase in adverse reactions in geriatric population – polypharmacy, greater use of drugs with low
therapeutic index, poor adherence, inadequate supervision, severe illness.
Adverse effects in the elderly – Beers list.
Drugs that inhibit cell wall synthesis: 2 questions
Gram + = strep, staph, enterococcus
Penicillin- bacteriocidal with Beta Lactam ring- MOA- weaken cell wall causing bacteria to take up excess
water and rupture
Resistance factors- inability for PCNs to reach target, inactivation of PCNs by bacterial enzyme,
production of PCN binding protein that have a low affinity for PCNs
Narrow Spectrum (Penicillinase sensitive)- Naficillin, Oxacillin, Dicloxacillin
Broad Spectrum – Ampicillin, Amoxicillin
3
, Extended- Spectrum- Ticarcillin, Piperacillin
Beta Lactamase Inhibitors- Clavulanic Acid, Tazobactam, Sulbactam
Cephalasporins- binds to penicillin binding proteins (PBPs), disrupts cell wall synthesis, causing cell to
lyse.
First generation cephalosporins – gram positive cocci. Second and third generation more broad spectrum
– gram positive and gram negative.
!st generation- prophylactic for surgery- never for active infection
Cephazolin (do not give with alcohol)
Cephalexin
Cefadroxil
2nd generation- works against URI- pneumonia from h. flu, klebsiella, pneumoniacocci, staphylococci
Cefotetan (do not give with alcohol or drugs that promote bleeding)
Cefprozil
Cefoxitin
Cefuroxime
Cefactor
3rd generation- preferred gram -, treats meningitis
Ceftriaxone (do not give with drugs that promote bleeding, or calcium)
Cefixime
Cefditoren
Cefotaxime
4th generation- Used to treat HAP, pseudomonas aeruginosa
Cefepime
Ceftolozone
5th generation- used to treat MRSA
Ceftaroline
*which can cause bleeding, which contraindicated with alcohol?
If have an anaphylactic reaction, do not give PCNs or Cephalosporins. If not anaphylactic, can give
cephalosporins.
Vancomycin – active against MRSA, bacteriocidal, red man syndrome.
Bacteriostatic inhibitors of protein synthesis: 1 question
Tetracyclines- non-lethal inhibitors of protein synthesis- Broad Spectrum
4
Prescribing Basics: 2 questions
Prescriptive authority regulated by the state BON in each state.
Tall man lettering to highlight dissimilaries with look-alike names
*Prescription contains… Physicians Name, Address, and telephone number are required to be included in
the prescription. DEA number (two letters, five numbers) if the prescription is for controlled substance,
Patient name and DOB (also may include address and weight), Date Rx is written (expires 1 year after
date issued), Name of drug and strength- avoid trailing zeroes, use leading zeroes, Directions with
indications/route of administration and frequency, write out number of refills, quantity of drug,
signature, NPI number (9 or 11 numbers), sign as A-PNP or role recognized by the BON
Drug schedules – one is most addictive, up to schedule 5.
1) heroin, LSD, marijuana.
2) oxycodone, hydrocodone, methamphetamines.
3) codeine, ketamine, testosterone.
4) Xanax, valium, ambien, tramadol.
5) antidiarrheal, antitussives, Lomotil, lyrica.
*calculation question
Pharmacology Principles: 3 questions
Pharmacodynamics – effect of drugs on body. Works by receptors. Usually proteins that interact with
drugs.
Agonist – produce receptor stimulation, conformational change every time they bind.
Partial agonist – properties between agonists and antagonists. Submaximal effect. Stimulate only some
of the receptors.
Antagonist – affinity for receptor but NO intrinsic activity. Affinity allows antagonist to bind to receptors,
but lack of intrinsic activity prevents receptor activation. Blocks action of drugs (example Narcan).
Therapeutic range – between minimum effective concentration and toxic concentration. Working
effectivity with no toxicity or adverse effects. Wider therapeutic range is better! Easiest to control.
Bioavailability – percentage of dose of drug that survives first pass through liver and reaches blood
stream.
Half life – time required for amount of drug to decline by 50%. Shorter half life admin more frequently.
4.5-5 half lives to get to steady state and to eliminate from body.
1
,Pharmacokinetics – what body does to drug. Absorption, distribution, metabolism, elimination. (ADME)
Parenteral (bypass first pass), then oral, then lungs, then skin, eye and ears for best absorption.
Distribution affected by lipid/water solubility, PH, protein binding, size of molecule.
Protein binding – unbound drug is free drug which is active. When 2 highly bound drugs are given it
increases the level of one of the drugs, leading to toxicity. IE warfarin and phenytoin are both highly
protein bound. Low plasma protein result in more free drug. May be in elderly, so decrease dose of
medication. T3 and T4 both highly protein bound. 1% of drug is powerful.
Distribution – BBB (only lipid soluble will pass) – these such as narcotics, only work because they do
cross BBB. Some meds we do not want to pass. Placental barrier (many drugs can pass) so be careful
with drugs in pregnancy.
Metabolism – liver. Chemical change of a drug structure to enhance excretion, inactivate drug, increase
therapeutic action, activate prodrug, increase or decrease toxicity.
Substrate – agent that is metabolized by an enzyme into a metabolite and product and eventually
excreted.
*Inhibitors – compete with other drugs for a particular enzyme affecting the metabolism (decreases) of
the substrate and decreases the excretion of the substrate and increasing the circulating drug. Need to
decrease dose of substrate if start on an inhibitor. INH increases substrate.
*Inducer – competes with other drugs for a particular enzyme affecting metabolism of the substrate
(increases) decreasing the efficacy of the drug. Need to increase dose of substrate if start on an inducer.
IND decreases substrate.
Renal excretion – passive glomerular filtration, active tubular secretion, tubular reabsorption.
Pharmacogenomics: 1 question
Pharmacogenomics- the study of the influence of hereditary factors on the response of individual
organism to drugs, and the study of variations of DNA and RNA characteristics as related to drug
response.
Pharmacogenetic tests mentioned on drug labels can be classified as “test required”, “test
recommended”, and “information only”. Currently there are 4 drugs requiring to have pharmacogenetic
testing performed before they are prescribed: Cetuximab, Trastuzumab, Maraviroc, and Dasatinib.
No genetic testing is required by the FDA for the initiation of medications such as warfarin,
carbamazepine, valproic avid and abacavir are currently in place, such tests are recommended prior to
initial dosing.
BBW initiated in December 2007- on carbamazepine label – testing recommended for HLA-B 1502 in
patient with Asian ancestry due to high risk of developing SJS or toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN).
Drugs across the lifespan: 3 questions
2
,Lack of evidence-based literature on safe and effective use of meds in children.
Neonates at greater risk for toxicity with highly protein-bound drugs because protein binding decreased,
increasing amount of free drug available.
Adult level of renal function achieved at 12 months.
Most accurate device for measuring liquid dose for child – oral syringe.
*lifespan changes in elderly- watch for Cholenergic SE, Neuro SE, sedative SE
Prevent medication errors – write out the term daily, no zeros after decimal point.
Drug sensitivity in the very young results from immature organs, in elderly from organ system
degeneration.
Pediatric organ immaturity – at risk for elevated drug levels, delayed elimination.
Gastric acidity does not reach adult values for 2 years.
Elderly drug complications due to altered pharmacokinetics, multiple and severe illnesses, multiple-drug
therapy, poor adherence.
Altered absorption of drugs in elderly result in delayed drug response.
Four factors that alter drug distribution in elderly – increased body fat, decreased lean body mass,
decreased body water, reduced serum albumin
Nalidixic acid may cause cartilage erosion in children.
Fluoroquinolones in pediatric – tendon rupture.
Reduced albumin causes free drug to rise.
Elderly, proper index of renal function is creatinine clearance. Then GFR.
Increase in adverse reactions in geriatric population – polypharmacy, greater use of drugs with low
therapeutic index, poor adherence, inadequate supervision, severe illness.
Adverse effects in the elderly – Beers list.
Drugs that inhibit cell wall synthesis: 2 questions
Gram + = strep, staph, enterococcus
Penicillin- bacteriocidal with Beta Lactam ring- MOA- weaken cell wall causing bacteria to take up excess
water and rupture
Resistance factors- inability for PCNs to reach target, inactivation of PCNs by bacterial enzyme,
production of PCN binding protein that have a low affinity for PCNs
Narrow Spectrum (Penicillinase sensitive)- Naficillin, Oxacillin, Dicloxacillin
Broad Spectrum – Ampicillin, Amoxicillin
3
, Extended- Spectrum- Ticarcillin, Piperacillin
Beta Lactamase Inhibitors- Clavulanic Acid, Tazobactam, Sulbactam
Cephalasporins- binds to penicillin binding proteins (PBPs), disrupts cell wall synthesis, causing cell to
lyse.
First generation cephalosporins – gram positive cocci. Second and third generation more broad spectrum
– gram positive and gram negative.
!st generation- prophylactic for surgery- never for active infection
Cephazolin (do not give with alcohol)
Cephalexin
Cefadroxil
2nd generation- works against URI- pneumonia from h. flu, klebsiella, pneumoniacocci, staphylococci
Cefotetan (do not give with alcohol or drugs that promote bleeding)
Cefprozil
Cefoxitin
Cefuroxime
Cefactor
3rd generation- preferred gram -, treats meningitis
Ceftriaxone (do not give with drugs that promote bleeding, or calcium)
Cefixime
Cefditoren
Cefotaxime
4th generation- Used to treat HAP, pseudomonas aeruginosa
Cefepime
Ceftolozone
5th generation- used to treat MRSA
Ceftaroline
*which can cause bleeding, which contraindicated with alcohol?
If have an anaphylactic reaction, do not give PCNs or Cephalosporins. If not anaphylactic, can give
cephalosporins.
Vancomycin – active against MRSA, bacteriocidal, red man syndrome.
Bacteriostatic inhibitors of protein synthesis: 1 question
Tetracyclines- non-lethal inhibitors of protein synthesis- Broad Spectrum
4
