1
Study Guide for NR 293Exam 1
Chapter 2
Define the common terms used in pharmacology
o Pharmacokinetic- the study of what the body does to the drug; involves the processes of
absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion; the study of what happens to a drug
from the time it is put into the body until the parent drug and all metabolites have left the
body; represent the drug absorption into, distribution and metabolism within, and
excretion from the body
o Pharmacodynamics- the study of what the drug does to the body; involves drug–
receptor relationships.
o First-pass effect- initial metabolism in the liver of a drug absorbed from the GI tract
before the drug reaches systemic circulation through the bloodstream; reduces the
bioavaibility of less than 100%, whereas drugs administered by the intravenous route are
100% bioavailable
o Bioavaibility- a measure of the extent of a drug absorption for a given drug and route
(from 0% to 100%)
o Protein-binding
o Onset of action- time required for a drug to elicit a therapeutic response after dosings
o Peak Effect – the time required for a drug to reach its max. therapeutic response
o Duration of action- the length of time the concentration of a drug in the blood or tissues
is sufficient to elict a response
o Half-life – in pharmacokinetics, the time required for half of an administered dose of
drug to be eliminated by the body, or the time it takes for the blood level of a drug to be
reduced
o Therapeutic index- ratio btwn toxic and therapeutic concentrations of a drug
o Trough level- lowest blood level; the lowest concentration of a drug reached in the body
after it falls from its peak level, usually measured in blood sample for therapeutic drug
monitoring
o Peak level- highest blood level; done usually at 12th level after 3rd dose; the max.
concentration of a drug in the body after administration, usually measured in a blood
sample for therapeutic drug monitoring
o Agonist- drug that binds to and stimulates the activity of one or more receptors in the
body
, 2
o Antagonist- drug that binds to and inhibits the activity of one or more receptors in the
body; also called inhibitors
Type of therapy:
o Acute therapy- often involves more intensive drug treatment and implemented in acutely
ill (those with rapid onset of illness) or critically ill; often needed to sustain life or treat
disease
Ex: vasopressors to maintain BP and cardiac output after open heart surgery
Ex: intensive chemotherapy for pt with newly diagnosed cancer
o Maintenance therapy- doesn’t eradicate problems the pt may already have but will
prevent progression of a disease or condition; used for treatment of chronic illnesses
Ex: HTN it will maintain the pt’s BP within given limits which prevents certain
end-organ damage
Ex: oral contraceptives for birth control
o Supplemental therapy- or replacement therapy; supplies body with a substance needed
to maintain normal function; substance may be needed bc it cannot be made by the body
or bc it is produced in insufficient quantity
Ex: administration of insulin to diabetic pt’s
Ex: iron to pts w/ iron-deficiency anemia
o Palliative therapy- make pt as comfortable as possible; focuses on providing pts w/
relief from symptoms, pain, and stress of a serious illness; goal is to improve quality of
life for both pt and family; typically used in the end stages of an illness when attempts at
curative therapy have failed; it can be provided along with curative treatment
Ex: use of high dose opioid analgesics to relieve pain in the final stages of cancer
o Supportive therapy- maintains integrity of body functions while the pt is recovering
from illness/trauma
Ex: provision of fluids and electrolytes to prevent dehydration in a pt w/ influenza
who is vomiting and has diarrhea
Ex: administration of fluids, volume expanders, or blood products to a pt who lost
blood during surgery
o Prophylactic therapy- drug therapy provided to prevent illness or other undesirable
outcome during planned events
Ex: preoperative antibiotic therapy for surgical procedures. Antibiotic given
before incision is made so antibiotic can kill any potential pathogens
Ex: administration of disease-specific vaccines to individuals traveling to
geographic areas where a given disease is known to be endemic
o Empiric therapy- based on clinical probabilities; involves drug administration when
certain pathologic condition has an uncertain but high likelihood of occurrence based on
the pt’s initial presenting symptoms
Ex: use of antibiotics active against the organism most commonly associated with
specific infection before results of C+S reports are available
Drug interaction:
o Additive effect- (1+1=2) when two drugs with similar actions are given together bc their
additive effects so smaller doses of each drug can be given
Ex: combinations of analgesic products antihistamine and opioid combinations
(promethazine and codeine) for treatment of cold symptoms
Study Guide for NR 293Exam 1
Chapter 2
Define the common terms used in pharmacology
o Pharmacokinetic- the study of what the body does to the drug; involves the processes of
absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion; the study of what happens to a drug
from the time it is put into the body until the parent drug and all metabolites have left the
body; represent the drug absorption into, distribution and metabolism within, and
excretion from the body
o Pharmacodynamics- the study of what the drug does to the body; involves drug–
receptor relationships.
o First-pass effect- initial metabolism in the liver of a drug absorbed from the GI tract
before the drug reaches systemic circulation through the bloodstream; reduces the
bioavaibility of less than 100%, whereas drugs administered by the intravenous route are
100% bioavailable
o Bioavaibility- a measure of the extent of a drug absorption for a given drug and route
(from 0% to 100%)
o Protein-binding
o Onset of action- time required for a drug to elicit a therapeutic response after dosings
o Peak Effect – the time required for a drug to reach its max. therapeutic response
o Duration of action- the length of time the concentration of a drug in the blood or tissues
is sufficient to elict a response
o Half-life – in pharmacokinetics, the time required for half of an administered dose of
drug to be eliminated by the body, or the time it takes for the blood level of a drug to be
reduced
o Therapeutic index- ratio btwn toxic and therapeutic concentrations of a drug
o Trough level- lowest blood level; the lowest concentration of a drug reached in the body
after it falls from its peak level, usually measured in blood sample for therapeutic drug
monitoring
o Peak level- highest blood level; done usually at 12th level after 3rd dose; the max.
concentration of a drug in the body after administration, usually measured in a blood
sample for therapeutic drug monitoring
o Agonist- drug that binds to and stimulates the activity of one or more receptors in the
body
, 2
o Antagonist- drug that binds to and inhibits the activity of one or more receptors in the
body; also called inhibitors
Type of therapy:
o Acute therapy- often involves more intensive drug treatment and implemented in acutely
ill (those with rapid onset of illness) or critically ill; often needed to sustain life or treat
disease
Ex: vasopressors to maintain BP and cardiac output after open heart surgery
Ex: intensive chemotherapy for pt with newly diagnosed cancer
o Maintenance therapy- doesn’t eradicate problems the pt may already have but will
prevent progression of a disease or condition; used for treatment of chronic illnesses
Ex: HTN it will maintain the pt’s BP within given limits which prevents certain
end-organ damage
Ex: oral contraceptives for birth control
o Supplemental therapy- or replacement therapy; supplies body with a substance needed
to maintain normal function; substance may be needed bc it cannot be made by the body
or bc it is produced in insufficient quantity
Ex: administration of insulin to diabetic pt’s
Ex: iron to pts w/ iron-deficiency anemia
o Palliative therapy- make pt as comfortable as possible; focuses on providing pts w/
relief from symptoms, pain, and stress of a serious illness; goal is to improve quality of
life for both pt and family; typically used in the end stages of an illness when attempts at
curative therapy have failed; it can be provided along with curative treatment
Ex: use of high dose opioid analgesics to relieve pain in the final stages of cancer
o Supportive therapy- maintains integrity of body functions while the pt is recovering
from illness/trauma
Ex: provision of fluids and electrolytes to prevent dehydration in a pt w/ influenza
who is vomiting and has diarrhea
Ex: administration of fluids, volume expanders, or blood products to a pt who lost
blood during surgery
o Prophylactic therapy- drug therapy provided to prevent illness or other undesirable
outcome during planned events
Ex: preoperative antibiotic therapy for surgical procedures. Antibiotic given
before incision is made so antibiotic can kill any potential pathogens
Ex: administration of disease-specific vaccines to individuals traveling to
geographic areas where a given disease is known to be endemic
o Empiric therapy- based on clinical probabilities; involves drug administration when
certain pathologic condition has an uncertain but high likelihood of occurrence based on
the pt’s initial presenting symptoms
Ex: use of antibiotics active against the organism most commonly associated with
specific infection before results of C+S reports are available
Drug interaction:
o Additive effect- (1+1=2) when two drugs with similar actions are given together bc their
additive effects so smaller doses of each drug can be given
Ex: combinations of analgesic products antihistamine and opioid combinations
(promethazine and codeine) for treatment of cold symptoms
