Pharmacology Notes for Nursing Students
Author: OPG
, 1
Chapter 1: Introduction to Drugs
Pharmacology: Study of the biological
effects of chemicals.
Drugs: Chemicals introduced into the body
to cause some sort of change.
Sources of Drugs
1- Natural sources
- Plants: A synthetic version of the
active chemical found in plants is
used for drugs.
- Animals: Used to replace human
chemicals not produced due to
disease or genetic problems.
- Inorganic compounds: salts of
various elements that have
therapeutic effects.
2- Synthetic sources
- Genetic engineering: alters bacteria
to produce chemicals that are
therapeutic and effective.
, 2
Drug label: have specific information that
identifies a specific drug.
Package insert: is prepared by the
manufacturer and contains all of the
chemical and study information that led to
the drug’s approval.
Chapter 2: Pharmacodynamics
Pharmacodynamics: Science of dealing
with interactions between the body and
foreign chemicals, like drugs.
Drug actions:
1. Replace a missing chemical
2. Increase cellular activity
3. Depress cellular activity
4. Interfere with the functioning of
foreign cells.
Generic drugs: Chemicals produced by
companies involved solely in the
Receptor sites: Specific areas on cell
manufacturing of drugs.
membranes that react with chemicals to
cause and effect within the cell.
Orphan drugs: Drugs that have been
discovered, but are not financially viable
Types of drugs depending on the receptor
because only will help a small cohort of
sites:
people.
1. Agonists: Cause the same activity
that natural chemicals would cause at
Over the counter drugs (OTC): Products
that site. (Ex. insulin)
that are available without prescription for
2. MAO inhibitors: Prevent the
self-treatment.
breakdown of natural chemicals
(norepinephrine) that stimulate the
Problems with OTC drugs:
receptor site. (Ex. MAO inhibitors)
1. Can mask the signs and symptoms of
3. Serotonin reuptake inhibitors: Block
underlying diseases.
the removal of serotonin from the
2. Could result in drug interactions and
nerve synapse.
interfere with drug therapy.
4. Competitive antagonists: Block the
3. Could result in a serious overdose if
receptor site to block the normal
not taken as directed.
stimulation and prevent the effect.
, 3
5. Noncompetitive antagonists: React Critical concentration: Amount of drug
with specific receptor sites to prevent needed to cause a therapeutic effect.
the reaction of another chemical with
a different receptor site on the same Loading dose: A higher dose than that
cell. usually used for treatment.
6. Partial agonists: Act as agonists and
antagonists. Dynamic equilibrium: Actual
7. Drug-enzyme interaction: Cause the concentration that a drug reaches in the
effects by interfering with the body.
enzyme systems that act as catalysts
for chemical reactions. The dynamic equilibrium is affected by:
8. Selective toxicity: The ability of a 1. Absorption: what happens to a drug
drug to attack only those systems from the time it is introduced to the
found in foreign cells. body until it reaches the circulating
fluids and tissues.
Pharmacokinetics: Study of absorption,
distribution, metabolism, and excretion of
drugs.
Author: OPG
, 1
Chapter 1: Introduction to Drugs
Pharmacology: Study of the biological
effects of chemicals.
Drugs: Chemicals introduced into the body
to cause some sort of change.
Sources of Drugs
1- Natural sources
- Plants: A synthetic version of the
active chemical found in plants is
used for drugs.
- Animals: Used to replace human
chemicals not produced due to
disease or genetic problems.
- Inorganic compounds: salts of
various elements that have
therapeutic effects.
2- Synthetic sources
- Genetic engineering: alters bacteria
to produce chemicals that are
therapeutic and effective.
, 2
Drug label: have specific information that
identifies a specific drug.
Package insert: is prepared by the
manufacturer and contains all of the
chemical and study information that led to
the drug’s approval.
Chapter 2: Pharmacodynamics
Pharmacodynamics: Science of dealing
with interactions between the body and
foreign chemicals, like drugs.
Drug actions:
1. Replace a missing chemical
2. Increase cellular activity
3. Depress cellular activity
4. Interfere with the functioning of
foreign cells.
Generic drugs: Chemicals produced by
companies involved solely in the
Receptor sites: Specific areas on cell
manufacturing of drugs.
membranes that react with chemicals to
cause and effect within the cell.
Orphan drugs: Drugs that have been
discovered, but are not financially viable
Types of drugs depending on the receptor
because only will help a small cohort of
sites:
people.
1. Agonists: Cause the same activity
that natural chemicals would cause at
Over the counter drugs (OTC): Products
that site. (Ex. insulin)
that are available without prescription for
2. MAO inhibitors: Prevent the
self-treatment.
breakdown of natural chemicals
(norepinephrine) that stimulate the
Problems with OTC drugs:
receptor site. (Ex. MAO inhibitors)
1. Can mask the signs and symptoms of
3. Serotonin reuptake inhibitors: Block
underlying diseases.
the removal of serotonin from the
2. Could result in drug interactions and
nerve synapse.
interfere with drug therapy.
4. Competitive antagonists: Block the
3. Could result in a serious overdose if
receptor site to block the normal
not taken as directed.
stimulation and prevent the effect.
, 3
5. Noncompetitive antagonists: React Critical concentration: Amount of drug
with specific receptor sites to prevent needed to cause a therapeutic effect.
the reaction of another chemical with
a different receptor site on the same Loading dose: A higher dose than that
cell. usually used for treatment.
6. Partial agonists: Act as agonists and
antagonists. Dynamic equilibrium: Actual
7. Drug-enzyme interaction: Cause the concentration that a drug reaches in the
effects by interfering with the body.
enzyme systems that act as catalysts
for chemical reactions. The dynamic equilibrium is affected by:
8. Selective toxicity: The ability of a 1. Absorption: what happens to a drug
drug to attack only those systems from the time it is introduced to the
found in foreign cells. body until it reaches the circulating
fluids and tissues.
Pharmacokinetics: Study of absorption,
distribution, metabolism, and excretion of
drugs.
