lOMoARcPSD|44532475
1
Pharmacology Exam 1
Unit 1
o Know the pharmacology terms: Definition (So what) and
significance (Now what or why is it important)
Half-life: time required for the body to eliminate
half of the drug. (if the patient has poor kidney function
this can increase the half-life of the medication)
Significance: determines the frequency for dosing.
o Understand protein binding of drugs, (we check albumin (3.5-5)
levels in regard to protein binding)
o Primary effect = the desirable response (does what it is
supposed to do)
o Secondary effect = desirable or undesirable (what it does &
what happens after
o Therapeutic index = the relationship between the therapeutic
dose and toxic dose
Therapeutic index = close monitoring of patient via labs
o Peak = highest concentration of the drug in the blood,
performed shortly after med has infused. The drug has to be in
their system in order to do this test, otherwise you are poking
them with a needle for no reason.
Significance: guide assessment of therapeutic effects and
planning for next dose.
o Trough = lowest concentration, ordered before the next dose of
med is due
A peak and trough is a lab blood test, you have to have the
drug in your system.
Significance: indicates if dose prescribed is effective.
o Agonist = activate receptors = desired effect
o Antagonist = prevent receptor activation = block response
Ex: Narcan against opioids
Significance: space out medications to avoid blocking the
effects of the initial med. Monitor for changes in
medication effectiveness.
o Side effects = secondary effects
Significance: this guides our assessments and teaching.
o Adverse drug reaction = unintentional, unexpected at a
normal dose.
Significance: identify early to discontinue med – guides
assessment.
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, lOMoARcPSD|44532475
2
o Onset = time between drug administration and when it starts to
exert its effect.
Significance: guide for assessment of therapeutic effects
and planning for next dose.
o Additive effect = sum of the effects of 2 drugs to achieve
combined effect.
Significance: assess closer for adverse reactions.
o Synergistic effect = potentiated effect in which the clinical
effect is substantially greater than the combined effect of the 2
(2 or more drugs are given together and the clinical effect of the
two drugs given together is greater than that of either drug
alone.
Example: like taking caffeine and acetaminophen together,
the caffeine makes the acetaminophen work better for
migraines.
o Pharmacokinetics = know absorption, distribution,
metabolism, excretion
Absorption = movement of drug into the bloodstream
after administration.
Significance: route of administration will determine
rate of absorption.
Distribution = delivery of drug from circulatory system to
target tissue or site.
Significance: impacted by alterations in circulation.
Metabolism = deactivation of drug by the liver for
excretion
Significance: drug dose need to be altered with
decreased liver function.
Excretion = elimination of drug from the body by the
kidneys.
Significance: may need to use alternate drugs or
adjust dose with decreased kidney function.
Geriatrics
o Polypharmacy = 5 drugs
o Implications with the older population:
Understand the physiologic changes associated with aging.
Liver loses 40% blood flow, which slows down
absorption.
Reduced blood flow to the brain.
GI tract slows down, plus irritation with NSAIDs.
Kidney function slows down.
Reduction in total body water and lean body mass.
Downloaded by madiba South Africa stuvia ()
1
Pharmacology Exam 1
Unit 1
o Know the pharmacology terms: Definition (So what) and
significance (Now what or why is it important)
Half-life: time required for the body to eliminate
half of the drug. (if the patient has poor kidney function
this can increase the half-life of the medication)
Significance: determines the frequency for dosing.
o Understand protein binding of drugs, (we check albumin (3.5-5)
levels in regard to protein binding)
o Primary effect = the desirable response (does what it is
supposed to do)
o Secondary effect = desirable or undesirable (what it does &
what happens after
o Therapeutic index = the relationship between the therapeutic
dose and toxic dose
Therapeutic index = close monitoring of patient via labs
o Peak = highest concentration of the drug in the blood,
performed shortly after med has infused. The drug has to be in
their system in order to do this test, otherwise you are poking
them with a needle for no reason.
Significance: guide assessment of therapeutic effects and
planning for next dose.
o Trough = lowest concentration, ordered before the next dose of
med is due
A peak and trough is a lab blood test, you have to have the
drug in your system.
Significance: indicates if dose prescribed is effective.
o Agonist = activate receptors = desired effect
o Antagonist = prevent receptor activation = block response
Ex: Narcan against opioids
Significance: space out medications to avoid blocking the
effects of the initial med. Monitor for changes in
medication effectiveness.
o Side effects = secondary effects
Significance: this guides our assessments and teaching.
o Adverse drug reaction = unintentional, unexpected at a
normal dose.
Significance: identify early to discontinue med – guides
assessment.
Downloaded by madiba South Africa stuvia ()
, lOMoARcPSD|44532475
2
o Onset = time between drug administration and when it starts to
exert its effect.
Significance: guide for assessment of therapeutic effects
and planning for next dose.
o Additive effect = sum of the effects of 2 drugs to achieve
combined effect.
Significance: assess closer for adverse reactions.
o Synergistic effect = potentiated effect in which the clinical
effect is substantially greater than the combined effect of the 2
(2 or more drugs are given together and the clinical effect of the
two drugs given together is greater than that of either drug
alone.
Example: like taking caffeine and acetaminophen together,
the caffeine makes the acetaminophen work better for
migraines.
o Pharmacokinetics = know absorption, distribution,
metabolism, excretion
Absorption = movement of drug into the bloodstream
after administration.
Significance: route of administration will determine
rate of absorption.
Distribution = delivery of drug from circulatory system to
target tissue or site.
Significance: impacted by alterations in circulation.
Metabolism = deactivation of drug by the liver for
excretion
Significance: drug dose need to be altered with
decreased liver function.
Excretion = elimination of drug from the body by the
kidneys.
Significance: may need to use alternate drugs or
adjust dose with decreased kidney function.
Geriatrics
o Polypharmacy = 5 drugs
o Implications with the older population:
Understand the physiologic changes associated with aging.
Liver loses 40% blood flow, which slows down
absorption.
Reduced blood flow to the brain.
GI tract slows down, plus irritation with NSAIDs.
Kidney function slows down.
Reduction in total body water and lean body mass.
Downloaded by madiba South Africa stuvia ()
