Nurs 305 - Exam 1 ReviewPHARM EXAM 1

PHARM EXAM 1 Pharm Basics  Drug – any chemical that affects the physiological process of a living organism  Pharmacology – study of drugs  Therapeutic equivalence – drugs are the same, but one is cheaper than the other so it is used as a substitute o Used to lower costs for patients o Must be researched to say that they are equivalent  Drug names o Chemical – the chemical composition o Generic – common name – does not belong to a drug company o Trade – name associated to a generic medication, but made by a certain drug company (with patent for 17 yrs. = development 10 yrs. and marketing 7 yrs.)  Drug classifications – drugs categorized together based on structure or therapeutic affect  Pharmaceutics – body breaking down the drug  Pharmacokinetics – absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion  Pharmacodynamics – drug-receptor interaction; how the drug impacts the body o Mechanism of action – enhance function of cell/tissue or stop it – Receptors (reactive site) – many drugs bind to receptors in order to produce the desired effect  Agonist – creates an action  Antagonist – stops an action  Non-selective interaction – do not target a specific enzyme; they target cell membranes and metabolic activities, these drugs interfere with or alter cellular structure/process  Pharmacotherapeutics o Acute therapy – antibiotic o Maintenance therapy – thyroid meds o Supplemental therapy – replace/add o Palliative therapy – comfortable o Supportive therapy – maintain body functions o Prophylactic therapy – prevention  Pharmacoeconomics – meds are expensive – usually there is a