Pharmacology for Nurses: A Pathophysiologic Approach (A Pathophysiologic
Approach 2024 Edition
1. History of Pharmacology: - began when humans first used plants to relieve
disease symptoms
- 3000 B.C. Babylonians recorded the earliest surviving "prescriptions"
- Pharmacology could not advance until science viewed as legitimate by religious
doctrine
- modern pharmacology thought to begin in early 1800s
- first department of pharmacology established in 1847
2. John Jacob Abel: - Father of American pharmacology
- founded the first pharmacology department of Pharmacology in the US in 1890
3. Twentieth Century Pharmacology: - Pharmacologists could synthesize drugs
- a better understanding of the mechanism of action for drugs
4. Current Pharmacology: - the central focus is on the quality of life
- health professionals should remember the roots of pharmacology and the use of
herbal remedies to relieve human pain
5. Pharmacology: - Derived from two Greek words:
1. Pharmakon = medicine
2. Logos = study
- defined as the study of medicine
6. Therapeutics: focuses on disease prevention as well as treatment and pain
7. Pharmacotherapy: the application of drugs for treating disease and alleviating
pain
8. Therapeutic Agents: 3 Categories: - Drugs or medications
- Biologics and biosimilar drugs
- Complementary and alternative medicine therapies
9. Drug: - A chemical agent capable of producing biological responses within the
body
- responses may be desirable (therapeutic) or undesirable (adverse)
10. Medication: Drug after it is administered
11. Drugs and Medications: - Mary be considered part of the body's normal activ-
ities
- Essential gases we breathe
- Foods we eat
12. Biologics: - Agents naturally produced in animal cells, by microorganisms, or by
, Pharmacology for Nurses: A Pathophysiologic Approach (A Pathophysiologic
Approach 2024 Edition
the body itself
- Large complex molecules or mixtures of molecules
- Examples:
- Hormones
- Monoclonal antibodies
- Natural blood products
, Pharmacology for Nurses: A Pathophysiologic Approach (A Pathophysiologic
Approach 2024 Edition
- Interferons
- Vaccines
13. Biosimilar Drugs: - Chemically synthesized
- closely related to biologic medications
14. Complementary and Alternative Therapies: - aka CAM therapies
- involve natural plant extracts, herbs, vitamins, minerals, and dietary supplements
- body-based practices:
- physical therapy
- massage
- acupuncture
- hypnosis
- biofeedback
15. Classification of Drugs: - Therapeutic classification = organized based on
therapeutic usefulness
- pharmacologic classification = organization based on the way the drug works at a
molecular, tissue, or body system level, often represents mechanism of action
16. Anticoagulant: - therapeutic classification
- influence blood clotting
17. Antihyperlipidemic: - therapeutic classification
- lower blood cholesterol
18. Antihypertensive: - therapeutic classification
- lower blood pressure
19. Antidysrhythmic: - therapeutic classification
- restore normal cardiac rhythm
20. Antianginal: - therapeutic classification
- treat angina
21. Diuretic: - pharmacologic classification
- lowers plasma volume
22. Calcium Channel Blockers: - pharmacologic classification
- blocks heart calcium channels
23. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor: - pharmacologic classification
- blocks hormonal activity
24. Adrenergic antagonist: - pharmacologic classification
Approach 2024 Edition
1. History of Pharmacology: - began when humans first used plants to relieve
disease symptoms
- 3000 B.C. Babylonians recorded the earliest surviving "prescriptions"
- Pharmacology could not advance until science viewed as legitimate by religious
doctrine
- modern pharmacology thought to begin in early 1800s
- first department of pharmacology established in 1847
2. John Jacob Abel: - Father of American pharmacology
- founded the first pharmacology department of Pharmacology in the US in 1890
3. Twentieth Century Pharmacology: - Pharmacologists could synthesize drugs
- a better understanding of the mechanism of action for drugs
4. Current Pharmacology: - the central focus is on the quality of life
- health professionals should remember the roots of pharmacology and the use of
herbal remedies to relieve human pain
5. Pharmacology: - Derived from two Greek words:
1. Pharmakon = medicine
2. Logos = study
- defined as the study of medicine
6. Therapeutics: focuses on disease prevention as well as treatment and pain
7. Pharmacotherapy: the application of drugs for treating disease and alleviating
pain
8. Therapeutic Agents: 3 Categories: - Drugs or medications
- Biologics and biosimilar drugs
- Complementary and alternative medicine therapies
9. Drug: - A chemical agent capable of producing biological responses within the
body
- responses may be desirable (therapeutic) or undesirable (adverse)
10. Medication: Drug after it is administered
11. Drugs and Medications: - Mary be considered part of the body's normal activ-
ities
- Essential gases we breathe
- Foods we eat
12. Biologics: - Agents naturally produced in animal cells, by microorganisms, or by
, Pharmacology for Nurses: A Pathophysiologic Approach (A Pathophysiologic
Approach 2024 Edition
the body itself
- Large complex molecules or mixtures of molecules
- Examples:
- Hormones
- Monoclonal antibodies
- Natural blood products
, Pharmacology for Nurses: A Pathophysiologic Approach (A Pathophysiologic
Approach 2024 Edition
- Interferons
- Vaccines
13. Biosimilar Drugs: - Chemically synthesized
- closely related to biologic medications
14. Complementary and Alternative Therapies: - aka CAM therapies
- involve natural plant extracts, herbs, vitamins, minerals, and dietary supplements
- body-based practices:
- physical therapy
- massage
- acupuncture
- hypnosis
- biofeedback
15. Classification of Drugs: - Therapeutic classification = organized based on
therapeutic usefulness
- pharmacologic classification = organization based on the way the drug works at a
molecular, tissue, or body system level, often represents mechanism of action
16. Anticoagulant: - therapeutic classification
- influence blood clotting
17. Antihyperlipidemic: - therapeutic classification
- lower blood cholesterol
18. Antihypertensive: - therapeutic classification
- lower blood pressure
19. Antidysrhythmic: - therapeutic classification
- restore normal cardiac rhythm
20. Antianginal: - therapeutic classification
- treat angina
21. Diuretic: - pharmacologic classification
- lowers plasma volume
22. Calcium Channel Blockers: - pharmacologic classification
- blocks heart calcium channels
23. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor: - pharmacologic classification
- blocks hormonal activity
24. Adrenergic antagonist: - pharmacologic classification
