246
Pharmacolog
y
© 24
, 247
Tipsfor Pharmacology
nurse in the making
Class Turn the page for an entire section listing all the
most common suffixes and prefixes!
Definition example
suffixes Seen at the end of the words alendronate
Savedbythe suffixes&prefixes
prefixes Seen at the beginning of words cephalexin
Memorizing your suffixes and prefixes allows you to easily
recognize which medication class the drug falls into just by
looking at the ending or beginning. Note that it doesn't
work for every medication, and there are some outliers.
Memorizethe unique
&alarmingside effects
Labvalues Many medications have unique side effects.
Labs? In pharmacology? YES. Lab values connect to Even if they rarely occur, the NCLEX
everything, not only diagnoses and disease processes. & nursing exams like to test on these.
Particular medications can make certain lab values For example:
increase or decrease, and many drugs have therapeutic
ranges. Many medications are used to treat diseases • The antibiotic class, fluoroquinolones,
can cause
that will present with abnormal lab values. Know how tendon rupture, while the most common side effects
these connect, because you'll see them every day as a are GI upset and photosensitivity.
nurse, and they'll DEFINITELYbe on your exams.
• Phenytoin can cause gingival hyperplasia, nausea,
vomiting, and hypotension. Remember, the most
unique side effect associated with this medication is
gingival hyperplasia, so it’s one you can expect to see.
Askfor help
It may be scary, but asking your professor for guidance
is okay. This is one of the most difficult classes for a lot
of students, so don't get shy now—ask for help! After Studymedicationclassesrather
all, they are your resources for teaching and learning.
• Ask your professor if the exam will test on generic
than individualmedications
names, brand names, or both. Most nursing Common suffixes and prefixes will help you learn
schools try to mimic the NCLEX, which tests only medication classes in a more efficient way, as well as
on generic medication names. learning how that specific medication class works to
change the body's processes. Instead of zeroing in on
• Ask if they have any specific tips regarding one medication's use, look at the mechanism of action
studying, or how they personally studied for the entire class. This will broaden your scope of
pharmacology while first in nursing school. knowledge in pharmacology!
Askyourselfthese questionsto cover
Familiarizeyourselfwithpatient all necessaryeducation:
• When should the patient take it?
educationfor commonmedications • Should they make any diet modifications?
A good majority of the medications you will be • Should they make any modifications to their lifestyle?
learning about are taken in patients' homes. • Does it affect their hormonal birth control?
It's important you know how to educate them
• It is safe for pregnant or breastfeeding women?
on how to properly take these medications.
© 25
, 248
Pharmacology
DrugNames,Suffixes& Basics
nurse in the making
Prefixes
Drug Names
drug
Chemical Name generic Name Trade/Brand Name
Name selected by the
Scientific name; “Official" name of a drug; pharmaceutical company
describes the molecular Non-proprietary that made the drug;
structure of a drug (not owned by a company) proprietary
(owned by a company)
Not commonly Contains the
Followed by a
used when suffixes discussed trademark symbol:
referring to the in this section ™ or ®
medication
Example: Example:®
pantoprazole otonix
Thegenericname Pr Thetrade/brand name
is lowercase is capitalized
Askyourpharmacologyprofessorif they willgiveyouthe genericname,trade name,
or both on the exam,as this canhelp guide yourstudies. Theymaynot giveyouan answer,
but it can't hurt to try. Asfor the NCLEX,it tests onlyon genericmedications!
Suffixes& Prefixes EXAMPLES:
Bisphosphonates
end in the suffix "-dronate"
It’s nearly impossible to remember every single
medication from your pharmacology class and generic trade name
as a new nurse on the floor. alendronate Binosto, Fosamax
etidronate Didronel
That’s why it’s helpful to learn common suffixes
ibandronate Boniva
and prefixes for certain medication classes.
This allows you to easily recognize a medication Suffixes & prefixes
only apply to the generic names
just by looking at the ending or beginning.
Benzodiazepines
end in the suffixes "-zolam" & "-zepam"
generic trade name
Y Definition example alprazolam Xanax
VEDB
SA lorazepam Ativan
Seen at the end
THESUFFIXsuffixes of words
alendronate diazepam Valium
clonazepam Klonopin
Seen at the chlordiazepoxide Librium
prefixes cephalexin
beginning of words
This is considered an outlier. This medication may not have
the same suffixes, but it's still considered a benzodiazepine.
Just commit this and other outliers to memory!
© 25
, 249
Pharmacology
Pharmaceutic,Pharmacokinetic&Pharmacodynamic Basics
nurse in the making
Phases
Pharmaceutic Pharmacokinetic Pharmacodynamic
Phase Phase Phase
Change from a • Absorption Movement of the drug
solid form (pill) • Distribution into a cell & potential of
by dissolving into • Metabolism the drug to bind to
a liquid form cellular receptors
• Excretion
Adme somemedications
examples:
1. How different medications 2. How a medication
interact with each other impacts the body
(drug-drug interactions)
Thinkaboutthe DYNAMICS
existing betweendrugs &the body
Termsto Know
Antagonists: Contraindication:
Work AGAINST the effect of another Any reason to AVOID or HOLD a medication,
drug or body system usually to avoid harm
Agonists: Adverse Reaction:
Help work WITH the effect of another Harmful or opposite reaction to a medication
drug or body system
Therapeutic Effect:
Loading Dose: Desired effect or outcome
High initial dose used to reach
Therapeutic Index/Level:
therapeutic levels more quickly
Desired level of medication in the body
(usually measured by serum levels in the blood)
© 25
Pharmacolog
y
© 24
, 247
Tipsfor Pharmacology
nurse in the making
Class Turn the page for an entire section listing all the
most common suffixes and prefixes!
Definition example
suffixes Seen at the end of the words alendronate
Savedbythe suffixes&prefixes
prefixes Seen at the beginning of words cephalexin
Memorizing your suffixes and prefixes allows you to easily
recognize which medication class the drug falls into just by
looking at the ending or beginning. Note that it doesn't
work for every medication, and there are some outliers.
Memorizethe unique
&alarmingside effects
Labvalues Many medications have unique side effects.
Labs? In pharmacology? YES. Lab values connect to Even if they rarely occur, the NCLEX
everything, not only diagnoses and disease processes. & nursing exams like to test on these.
Particular medications can make certain lab values For example:
increase or decrease, and many drugs have therapeutic
ranges. Many medications are used to treat diseases • The antibiotic class, fluoroquinolones,
can cause
that will present with abnormal lab values. Know how tendon rupture, while the most common side effects
these connect, because you'll see them every day as a are GI upset and photosensitivity.
nurse, and they'll DEFINITELYbe on your exams.
• Phenytoin can cause gingival hyperplasia, nausea,
vomiting, and hypotension. Remember, the most
unique side effect associated with this medication is
gingival hyperplasia, so it’s one you can expect to see.
Askfor help
It may be scary, but asking your professor for guidance
is okay. This is one of the most difficult classes for a lot
of students, so don't get shy now—ask for help! After Studymedicationclassesrather
all, they are your resources for teaching and learning.
• Ask your professor if the exam will test on generic
than individualmedications
names, brand names, or both. Most nursing Common suffixes and prefixes will help you learn
schools try to mimic the NCLEX, which tests only medication classes in a more efficient way, as well as
on generic medication names. learning how that specific medication class works to
change the body's processes. Instead of zeroing in on
• Ask if they have any specific tips regarding one medication's use, look at the mechanism of action
studying, or how they personally studied for the entire class. This will broaden your scope of
pharmacology while first in nursing school. knowledge in pharmacology!
Askyourselfthese questionsto cover
Familiarizeyourselfwithpatient all necessaryeducation:
• When should the patient take it?
educationfor commonmedications • Should they make any diet modifications?
A good majority of the medications you will be • Should they make any modifications to their lifestyle?
learning about are taken in patients' homes. • Does it affect their hormonal birth control?
It's important you know how to educate them
• It is safe for pregnant or breastfeeding women?
on how to properly take these medications.
© 25
, 248
Pharmacology
DrugNames,Suffixes& Basics
nurse in the making
Prefixes
Drug Names
drug
Chemical Name generic Name Trade/Brand Name
Name selected by the
Scientific name; “Official" name of a drug; pharmaceutical company
describes the molecular Non-proprietary that made the drug;
structure of a drug (not owned by a company) proprietary
(owned by a company)
Not commonly Contains the
Followed by a
used when suffixes discussed trademark symbol:
referring to the in this section ™ or ®
medication
Example: Example:®
pantoprazole otonix
Thegenericname Pr Thetrade/brand name
is lowercase is capitalized
Askyourpharmacologyprofessorif they willgiveyouthe genericname,trade name,
or both on the exam,as this canhelp guide yourstudies. Theymaynot giveyouan answer,
but it can't hurt to try. Asfor the NCLEX,it tests onlyon genericmedications!
Suffixes& Prefixes EXAMPLES:
Bisphosphonates
end in the suffix "-dronate"
It’s nearly impossible to remember every single
medication from your pharmacology class and generic trade name
as a new nurse on the floor. alendronate Binosto, Fosamax
etidronate Didronel
That’s why it’s helpful to learn common suffixes
ibandronate Boniva
and prefixes for certain medication classes.
This allows you to easily recognize a medication Suffixes & prefixes
only apply to the generic names
just by looking at the ending or beginning.
Benzodiazepines
end in the suffixes "-zolam" & "-zepam"
generic trade name
Y Definition example alprazolam Xanax
VEDB
SA lorazepam Ativan
Seen at the end
THESUFFIXsuffixes of words
alendronate diazepam Valium
clonazepam Klonopin
Seen at the chlordiazepoxide Librium
prefixes cephalexin
beginning of words
This is considered an outlier. This medication may not have
the same suffixes, but it's still considered a benzodiazepine.
Just commit this and other outliers to memory!
© 25
, 249
Pharmacology
Pharmaceutic,Pharmacokinetic&Pharmacodynamic Basics
nurse in the making
Phases
Pharmaceutic Pharmacokinetic Pharmacodynamic
Phase Phase Phase
Change from a • Absorption Movement of the drug
solid form (pill) • Distribution into a cell & potential of
by dissolving into • Metabolism the drug to bind to
a liquid form cellular receptors
• Excretion
Adme somemedications
examples:
1. How different medications 2. How a medication
interact with each other impacts the body
(drug-drug interactions)
Thinkaboutthe DYNAMICS
existing betweendrugs &the body
Termsto Know
Antagonists: Contraindication:
Work AGAINST the effect of another Any reason to AVOID or HOLD a medication,
drug or body system usually to avoid harm
Agonists: Adverse Reaction:
Help work WITH the effect of another Harmful or opposite reaction to a medication
drug or body system
Therapeutic Effect:
Loading Dose: Desired effect or outcome
High initial dose used to reach
Therapeutic Index/Level:
therapeutic levels more quickly
Desired level of medication in the body
(usually measured by serum levels in the blood)
© 25
