NUR 114 PHARM FINAL EXAM STUDY
GUIDE
, Introduction to Pharmacology Final
75 multiple choice questions BRING A CALCULATOR (not a cell phone)
How do the elements of pharmacokinetics impact drug administration and utility?
Absorption, Distribution, metabolism, and excretion
Why are medications given by different routes? What are the potential advantages and
disadvantages of these routes?
1. Pharmacokinetics focuses on what the body does to drugs after they are administered
a. Stomach—portal vein—liver—circulation—target tissue—target cell
2. Drugs use diffusion and active transport to cross plasma membranes to reach their
target cells
a. Diffusion: movement of chemical from higher to lower concentration (blood to
tissues)
3. Absorption is the process of moving a drug from the site of administration to the
bloodstream
a. Absorption: the 1st step to reaching target cells; move from administration to
blood; determines onset/intensity of drug action and higher absorption rates
produce a more effective response
b. Enteral route: delivered to GI tract either orally or through naso/gastro tubes;
oral mucosa, small intestine, and stomach absorption; intended for general
circulation absorption (sublingual/buccal
c. Extended release designed to dissolve slowly resulting in a longer duration of
action
d. First pass effect: drugs absorbed from the stomach and small intestine first travel
to the liver where the drug may be inactivated before they ever reach their target
organs
e. Parenteral route: administration of drugs other than enteral or topical; more
invasive; intra-arterial, intraosseous, intrathecal (body cavities), intra-venous,
intramuscular, intradermal/subcutaneous, or intracardiac (organs)
f. Topical: transdermal patches, ophthalmic=eye, otic=ear, intranasal, vaginal
4. Distribution describes how drugs are transported throughout the body
a. Distribution: movement of medications throughout the body after they are
absorbed
b. Good blood flow to desired site is needed for adequate drug distribution
c. Anatomic barriers that affect drug distribution = blood/brain barrier, and
fetal/placental barrier
, 5. Metabolism is a process that changes the activity of a drug and makes it more likely to
be excreted
a. Metabolism: process to chemically change the drug molecule
i. Most metabolism is accomplished by the hepatic microsomal enzyme
system
b. Pharmacotherapy:
i. Oral drug taken by patient
ii. Drug absorbed across intestinal mucosa
iii. Drug enters portal circulation and travels to the liver
iv. First pass effect to liver = metabolized to less active forms
v. Drug metabolites leave the liver for distribution to tissues
6. Excretion processes remove drugs from the body
a. Excretion: removal from the body
i. Renal (urine/kidneys), pulmonary (respiratory system), glandular
(saliva/sweat/breast milk), fecal/biliary (feces/bile)
7. The route of administration for a medication varies from patient to patient. Most
patients prefer capsules, but they have a slow onset time. IV medications go directly to
the bloodstream and are the fastest onset, but they are also the most dangerous.
a. Oral
i. Advantages:
1. Easy
2. Preferred by patients
3. Extended-release preparations may be available to extend
duration of action because they dissolve slowly. They have the
advantage of being taken at less frequent intervals than
immediate-release formulations of the same drug.
4. Drugs can be formulated in such a way as to protect them from
digestive enzymes, acid, etc. (Enteric-coated)
ii. Disadvantages:
1. Unsuitable in patients who are uncooperative, are vomiting
profusely
2. Tablets and capsules must dissolve before drug is available for
absorption which gives them a slow onset time. (Oral liquids
absorbed faster)
3. Unpredictable absorption due to degradation by stomach acid and
enzymes
GUIDE
, Introduction to Pharmacology Final
75 multiple choice questions BRING A CALCULATOR (not a cell phone)
How do the elements of pharmacokinetics impact drug administration and utility?
Absorption, Distribution, metabolism, and excretion
Why are medications given by different routes? What are the potential advantages and
disadvantages of these routes?
1. Pharmacokinetics focuses on what the body does to drugs after they are administered
a. Stomach—portal vein—liver—circulation—target tissue—target cell
2. Drugs use diffusion and active transport to cross plasma membranes to reach their
target cells
a. Diffusion: movement of chemical from higher to lower concentration (blood to
tissues)
3. Absorption is the process of moving a drug from the site of administration to the
bloodstream
a. Absorption: the 1st step to reaching target cells; move from administration to
blood; determines onset/intensity of drug action and higher absorption rates
produce a more effective response
b. Enteral route: delivered to GI tract either orally or through naso/gastro tubes;
oral mucosa, small intestine, and stomach absorption; intended for general
circulation absorption (sublingual/buccal
c. Extended release designed to dissolve slowly resulting in a longer duration of
action
d. First pass effect: drugs absorbed from the stomach and small intestine first travel
to the liver where the drug may be inactivated before they ever reach their target
organs
e. Parenteral route: administration of drugs other than enteral or topical; more
invasive; intra-arterial, intraosseous, intrathecal (body cavities), intra-venous,
intramuscular, intradermal/subcutaneous, or intracardiac (organs)
f. Topical: transdermal patches, ophthalmic=eye, otic=ear, intranasal, vaginal
4. Distribution describes how drugs are transported throughout the body
a. Distribution: movement of medications throughout the body after they are
absorbed
b. Good blood flow to desired site is needed for adequate drug distribution
c. Anatomic barriers that affect drug distribution = blood/brain barrier, and
fetal/placental barrier
, 5. Metabolism is a process that changes the activity of a drug and makes it more likely to
be excreted
a. Metabolism: process to chemically change the drug molecule
i. Most metabolism is accomplished by the hepatic microsomal enzyme
system
b. Pharmacotherapy:
i. Oral drug taken by patient
ii. Drug absorbed across intestinal mucosa
iii. Drug enters portal circulation and travels to the liver
iv. First pass effect to liver = metabolized to less active forms
v. Drug metabolites leave the liver for distribution to tissues
6. Excretion processes remove drugs from the body
a. Excretion: removal from the body
i. Renal (urine/kidneys), pulmonary (respiratory system), glandular
(saliva/sweat/breast milk), fecal/biliary (feces/bile)
7. The route of administration for a medication varies from patient to patient. Most
patients prefer capsules, but they have a slow onset time. IV medications go directly to
the bloodstream and are the fastest onset, but they are also the most dangerous.
a. Oral
i. Advantages:
1. Easy
2. Preferred by patients
3. Extended-release preparations may be available to extend
duration of action because they dissolve slowly. They have the
advantage of being taken at less frequent intervals than
immediate-release formulations of the same drug.
4. Drugs can be formulated in such a way as to protect them from
digestive enzymes, acid, etc. (Enteric-coated)
ii. Disadvantages:
1. Unsuitable in patients who are uncooperative, are vomiting
profusely
2. Tablets and capsules must dissolve before drug is available for
absorption which gives them a slow onset time. (Oral liquids
absorbed faster)
3. Unpredictable absorption due to degradation by stomach acid and
enzymes
