D398 Section 2: Drug Treatment
for Acute and Chronic Conditions
Lesson 1.1 – Sources of Drugs and Treatment
Types of Drug Sources
I. Natural Sources of Drugs
Plant and Mineral Derived Drugs
Define: natural substances, such as tree roots and fruits, were the
primary sources of medicine. People utilized these components to treat
numerous medical disorders.
Examples: cinchona bark and the purple foxglove plant
Animal-Derived Drugs
Define: Substances derived from animal glands, organs, and tissues,
can replace missing components in the human body.
II. Synthetic Sources
Synthetic Drugs
Cheminformatics: the study of molecules' structures, characteristics,
and actions using computer technology, statistics, and mathematics.
Advantages: They can test millions of drugs quick and easy.
III. Genetic Engineering
Define: refers to the manipulation of DNA, creates new medications by
using substances from the human body.
Recombinant DNA Technology – List some examples: Insulin, growth
hormones, and gene therapy.
IV. Pharmacological Effects of Drugs
Systemic Effects
List systemic impacts: Systemic drug therapy entails treatment that
affects the entire body and operates directly on the body's systems.
Organ damage, respiratory disorders, and other illnesses in an exposed
population, are sometimes more difficult to trace to their source.
,Local Effects
Examples: Local effects explicitly target treatment to the site of
administration. Numerous topical skin treatments, such as those used
to treat skin diseases, are only effective locally. Example like local
anesthetic when getting stitches.
Can some localized treatment be absorbed in the body, causing
systemic effects? Yes but at a lesser extent.
Lesson 2.1 – How the Body Processes Drugs
Introduction to Pharmacokinetics (PK)
Definition: is the study of how the body responds to chemicals over
time.
Importance of PK:
The Four Main Phases of Pharmacokinetics
Mnemonic: ADME – “A Delicious Meal Everyday”
1. Absorption
Definition: when a substance gets into your bloodstream and begins to
exert its effect on the body
Key Factors:
o Route of administration: Oral, rectal, IV, intramuscular, inhalation
o Bioavailability
o Factors affecting absorption: antibiotics should be taken on an
empty stomach to maximize their effects. On the other hand,
exposure to an acidic environment, such as drinking a glass of
orange juice or eating spicy food, may reduce a medicine's
effects
2. Distribution
Definition: the transfer of the drug from the bloodstream to the body's
organ cells and fluids after ingestion
, Key Factors: this change depends on the biochemical features of the
substance and the individual's physiology.
3. Metabolism
Definition: different physiological systems that chemically alter most
medications into molecules, which exert an effect and then become
eliminated in the body
4. Excretion
Definition: the process through which a substance is removed from the
body
Routes of excretion: Sweat, bile, urine, breast milk.
Half-life (t½)
What is it? The amount of time it takes for a drugs active substance in
the body to decrease by half.
Medication Metabolism – How does this vary by:
Age: Due to the slowed metabolism and excretion of older persons,
cumulative effects must be considered.
Weight: drug sensitivity varies considerably across individuals. The
patient's weight can determine multiple medicine doses.
Gender: Some medicines affect women differently than men. Both the
ratio of fat to body mass and hormone levels vary.
Psychological state: It has been shown that patients with more
favorable attitudes about their medications have more favorable
physical reactions. This phenomenon is known as the placebo effect
Cultural and religious beliefs: A patient’s culture or religion may also
favorably or adversely affect their attitudes toward medications.
Therefore, the caregiver must understand the significance of the
patient's views.
Medication Interactions – Mnemonic: SPA (“Some People Are
Strong”)
Synergism: This is the interaction between two medications in which
one aids the other to achieve an effect that neither could produce
alone
for Acute and Chronic Conditions
Lesson 1.1 – Sources of Drugs and Treatment
Types of Drug Sources
I. Natural Sources of Drugs
Plant and Mineral Derived Drugs
Define: natural substances, such as tree roots and fruits, were the
primary sources of medicine. People utilized these components to treat
numerous medical disorders.
Examples: cinchona bark and the purple foxglove plant
Animal-Derived Drugs
Define: Substances derived from animal glands, organs, and tissues,
can replace missing components in the human body.
II. Synthetic Sources
Synthetic Drugs
Cheminformatics: the study of molecules' structures, characteristics,
and actions using computer technology, statistics, and mathematics.
Advantages: They can test millions of drugs quick and easy.
III. Genetic Engineering
Define: refers to the manipulation of DNA, creates new medications by
using substances from the human body.
Recombinant DNA Technology – List some examples: Insulin, growth
hormones, and gene therapy.
IV. Pharmacological Effects of Drugs
Systemic Effects
List systemic impacts: Systemic drug therapy entails treatment that
affects the entire body and operates directly on the body's systems.
Organ damage, respiratory disorders, and other illnesses in an exposed
population, are sometimes more difficult to trace to their source.
,Local Effects
Examples: Local effects explicitly target treatment to the site of
administration. Numerous topical skin treatments, such as those used
to treat skin diseases, are only effective locally. Example like local
anesthetic when getting stitches.
Can some localized treatment be absorbed in the body, causing
systemic effects? Yes but at a lesser extent.
Lesson 2.1 – How the Body Processes Drugs
Introduction to Pharmacokinetics (PK)
Definition: is the study of how the body responds to chemicals over
time.
Importance of PK:
The Four Main Phases of Pharmacokinetics
Mnemonic: ADME – “A Delicious Meal Everyday”
1. Absorption
Definition: when a substance gets into your bloodstream and begins to
exert its effect on the body
Key Factors:
o Route of administration: Oral, rectal, IV, intramuscular, inhalation
o Bioavailability
o Factors affecting absorption: antibiotics should be taken on an
empty stomach to maximize their effects. On the other hand,
exposure to an acidic environment, such as drinking a glass of
orange juice or eating spicy food, may reduce a medicine's
effects
2. Distribution
Definition: the transfer of the drug from the bloodstream to the body's
organ cells and fluids after ingestion
, Key Factors: this change depends on the biochemical features of the
substance and the individual's physiology.
3. Metabolism
Definition: different physiological systems that chemically alter most
medications into molecules, which exert an effect and then become
eliminated in the body
4. Excretion
Definition: the process through which a substance is removed from the
body
Routes of excretion: Sweat, bile, urine, breast milk.
Half-life (t½)
What is it? The amount of time it takes for a drugs active substance in
the body to decrease by half.
Medication Metabolism – How does this vary by:
Age: Due to the slowed metabolism and excretion of older persons,
cumulative effects must be considered.
Weight: drug sensitivity varies considerably across individuals. The
patient's weight can determine multiple medicine doses.
Gender: Some medicines affect women differently than men. Both the
ratio of fat to body mass and hormone levels vary.
Psychological state: It has been shown that patients with more
favorable attitudes about their medications have more favorable
physical reactions. This phenomenon is known as the placebo effect
Cultural and religious beliefs: A patient’s culture or religion may also
favorably or adversely affect their attitudes toward medications.
Therefore, the caregiver must understand the significance of the
patient's views.
Medication Interactions – Mnemonic: SPA (“Some People Are
Strong”)
Synergism: This is the interaction between two medications in which
one aids the other to achieve an effect that neither could produce
alone
