Galen NUR 210 Exam 1 Modules 1-3 Questions & Answers Already Graded A+

Pharmacokinetics - The process in which medications move through the body What are the 4 phases of pharmacokinetics? - absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion Absorption - happens with drug movement from the GI tract into the bloodstream. Most meds are taken by mouth. Oral absorption - Takes awhile to get absorbed because it has to go through the GI system Usually takes 2-4 hours •Enteric coated aspirin - hard on stomach can not crush pill •Extended release absorbed in the small intestine IM absorption - Absorbed 1-2 hours IV absorption - Absorbed 30-60 minutes dissolution - Dissolution happens when a po medication breaks down into particles, disintegrates, and dissolves to combine with liquid so absorption from the GI tract into the bloodstream occurs. Liquid medications are absorbed faster than solids. Food can interfere with the absorption of drugs. Drugs that resist dissolution - Parenteral medications (SL, eyedrops, inhalants, transdermal) do not pass through the GI tract.Enteric coated medications are designed to resist disintegration until the pill reaches the small intestine. EC and sustained release meds should not be crushed. Factors that affect absorption - •Lack of muscle and increased fat changes medicine absorption •Food consumption - will change medicine potency (delayed) •Stress - Exercise, medicine goes to muscle •pH - Medicine is made for acidic environments •Antacid changes absorption •Taken alone so it doesn't change the action Excipients - Fillers and other substances that make up tablets as a pill is not 100% drug. Sometimes an excipient enhances the absorption of a drug such as with PCN, which is not well absorbed from the GI tract. Adding Na to PCN, which makes it penicillin sodium, will increase the absorption of PCN first pass effect - •the oral drugs go to liver via portal vein where some of the drug becomes inactive •Only happens with oral medications delayed gastric emptying - Food doesn't move like it should Distribution - refers to the movement of the drug from the circulation to body tissues Factors affecting distribution - -blood flow to tissues -protein binding -blood brain barrier -drug's affinity to the tissue protein binding - Drugs bind with proteins in bloodSome drugs are highly protein bound and other are weakly protein bound free drugs - drugs not bound to protein Drug Toxicity - -Two highly protein bound drugs compete and one might accumulate and cause a toxicity -it is important to know if you are administering highly protein bound medications and monitor albumin levels in patients with liver or kidney disease. -Some drugs that are highly protein bound include: Warfarin Furosemide Diazepam Drug distribution and albumin - -A decrease in albumin levels decrease the protein-binding sites, which means more of the free drug is circulated. -This can be fatal with some meds. -Free drugs are those not bound to protein, which means they are active in the body and cause a pharmacologic response. -Older adults, malnourished individuals, and those with liver or kidney disease have low albumin levels