Pharmacology definition
the study of drugs and their interactions with living systems
drug
any chemical that affects the physiologic processes of
... [Show More] a living organism
Clinical Pharmacology
study of drugs in humans
Pharmacotherapeutics
study of the use of drugs in treating disease
Three most important properties of an ideal drug
1. Effectiveness
2. Safety
3. Selectivity
other properties of drugs
predictability, ease of administration, freedom from drug interactions, los cost, chemical stability, generic name
Therapeutic objective of drugs
to provide maximum benefit with minimum harm
Determining Intensity of a drug
administration, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, individual variation
Pharmacokinetics
The process by which drugs are absorbed, distributed within the body, metabolized, and excreted.
Pharmacodynamics
The process by which a medication works on the body.
Five "Rights" to Administering Medication
right patient, right drug, right time, right route, right dose
Revised "Rights" of Administering Medication
right assessment, right, documentation, right evaluation, patients right to education, patients right to refuse medicine
The eight aspects of drug therapy
preadministration assessment, dosage and administration, promotion of therapeutic effects, minimizing adverse effects, minimizing interactions, making "as needed" (PNR) decisions, evaluating responses to the medication, managing toxicity
Pharmacology and Patient Education
the patient must know the name, dose, route, time and dosing schedule, expected therapeutic responses and possible side effects, possible interactions, non-drug enhancements, method of storage, whom to contact in event of therapeutic failure
Pharmacology and the Nursing Process
Applying ADPIE to drug therapy to maximize benefit with minimum harm for an individual patient
assessment (preadministration) of drug therapy
check baseline date (vitals), set therapeutic goals, identify high-risk patients
implementation of drug therapy
routes and administration combined with measures that enhance therapeutic effects
evaluation of drug therapy
summary of monitoring, evaluating therapeutic effects, minimizing adverse effects, minimizing adverse interactions, managing toxicity
The Food, Drug and Cosmetics Act of 1938
the first legislation to regulate drug safety
The Harris-Kefauver Amendments of 1962
the first legislation that demands that all drugs be of some benefit
NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health)
identifies drugs that are hazardous for handling and provides instructions for use
Three types of drug names
A chemical name, a generic or nonproprietary name, and a trade or proprietary name
steps for preclinical testing
drug is tested on cells, tissues, and animals for toxicity, phamracokinetics and possible useful effects, if they pass they go to "investigational new drug (IND) status [Show Less]