GALEN NUR 210 EXAM STUDY GUIDE MODULES 1-3
1.Pharmacokinetics ANS The process in which medications move through the body
2.What are the 4 phases of pharmacokinetics? ANS absorption, distribution,
metabolism, excretion
3. Absorption ANS happens with drug movement from the GI tract into the
bloodstream. Most meds are taken by mouth.
4. Oral absorption ANS Takes awhile to get absorbed because it has to go through the
GI system
Usually takes 2-4 hours
•Enteric coated
aspirin - hard on
stomach can not
crush pill •Extended
release
absorbed in the small intestine
5. IM absorption ANS Absorbed 1-2 hours
6. IV absorption ANS Absorbed 30-60 minutes
, GALEN NUR 210 EXAM STUDY GUIDE MODULES 1-3
7. dissolution ANS Dissolution happens when a po medication breaks down into
particles, disintegrates, and dissolves to combine with liquid so absorption from the GI
tract into the bloodstream occurs.
Liquid medications are absorbed faster than solids. Food can interfere with the
absorption of drugs.
8. Drugs that resist dissolution ANS Parenteral medications (SL, eyedrops, inhalants,
transdermal) do not pass through the GI tract.
Enteric coated medications are designed to resist disintegration until the pill reaches the
small intestine. EC and sustained release meds should not be crushed.
9. Factors that affect absorption ANS •Lack of muscle and increased fat changes
medicine absorption
•Food consumption - will change medicine potency (delayed)
•Stress - Exercise, medicine goes to muscle
•pH - Medicine is made for acidic environments
•Antacid changes absorption
•Taken alone so it doesn't change the action
10. Excipients ANS Fillers and other substances that make up tablets as a pill is not
100% drug.
Sometimes an excipient enhances the absorption of a drug such as with PCN, which is not
well absorbed from the GI tract.
Adding Na to PCN, which makes it penicillin sodium, will increase the absorption of PCN
, GALEN NUR 210 EXAM STUDY GUIDE MODULES 1-3
11. first pass effect ANS •the oral drugs go to liver via portal vein where some of the
drug becomes inactive •Only happens with oral medications
12. delayed gastric emptying ANS Food doesn't move like it should
13. Distribution ANS refers to the movement of the drug from the circulation to body
tissues
14. Factors affecting distribution ANS -blood flow to tissues
-protein binding
-blood brain barrier
-drug's affinity to the tissue
15. protein binding ANS Drugs bind with proteins in blood
Some drugs are highly protein bound and other are weakly protein bound
16. free drugs ANS drugs not bound to protein
17. Drug Toxicity ANS -Two highly protein bound drugs compete and one might
accumulate and cause a toxicity -it is important to know if you are administering highly
protein bound medications and monitor albumin levels in patients with liver or kidney
disease.
-Some drugs that are highly protein bound include: Warfarin
Furosemide
, GALEN NUR 210 EXAM STUDY GUIDE MODULES 1-3
Diazepam
18. Drug distribution and albumin ANS -A decrease in albumin levels decrease the
protein-binding sites, which means more of the free drug is circulated.
-This can be fatal with some meds.
-Free drugs are those not bound to protein, which means they are active in the body and
cause a pharmacologic response.
-Older adults, malnourished individuals, and those with liver or kidney disease have low
albumin levels.
19. Blood Brain Barrier (BBB) ANS -The BBB protects the brain from most drugs.
-Some meds are able to cross the BBB such as benzodiazepines.
-Drugs can cross the placenta and cause spontaneous abortion or alter fetal growth and
development.
20. Metabolism ANS •Chemically changes drug to a form that can be excreted •Liver
primary site
21. half-life ANS •the time it takes for the drug in the body to be reduced by half
22. Loading dose ANS use of a higher dose than what is usually used for treatment to
allow the drug to reach the critical concentration (therapeutic level) sooner
•Blood thinner
•Antibiotic
1.Pharmacokinetics ANS The process in which medications move through the body
2.What are the 4 phases of pharmacokinetics? ANS absorption, distribution,
metabolism, excretion
3. Absorption ANS happens with drug movement from the GI tract into the
bloodstream. Most meds are taken by mouth.
4. Oral absorption ANS Takes awhile to get absorbed because it has to go through the
GI system
Usually takes 2-4 hours
•Enteric coated
aspirin - hard on
stomach can not
crush pill •Extended
release
absorbed in the small intestine
5. IM absorption ANS Absorbed 1-2 hours
6. IV absorption ANS Absorbed 30-60 minutes
, GALEN NUR 210 EXAM STUDY GUIDE MODULES 1-3
7. dissolution ANS Dissolution happens when a po medication breaks down into
particles, disintegrates, and dissolves to combine with liquid so absorption from the GI
tract into the bloodstream occurs.
Liquid medications are absorbed faster than solids. Food can interfere with the
absorption of drugs.
8. Drugs that resist dissolution ANS Parenteral medications (SL, eyedrops, inhalants,
transdermal) do not pass through the GI tract.
Enteric coated medications are designed to resist disintegration until the pill reaches the
small intestine. EC and sustained release meds should not be crushed.
9. Factors that affect absorption ANS •Lack of muscle and increased fat changes
medicine absorption
•Food consumption - will change medicine potency (delayed)
•Stress - Exercise, medicine goes to muscle
•pH - Medicine is made for acidic environments
•Antacid changes absorption
•Taken alone so it doesn't change the action
10. Excipients ANS Fillers and other substances that make up tablets as a pill is not
100% drug.
Sometimes an excipient enhances the absorption of a drug such as with PCN, which is not
well absorbed from the GI tract.
Adding Na to PCN, which makes it penicillin sodium, will increase the absorption of PCN
, GALEN NUR 210 EXAM STUDY GUIDE MODULES 1-3
11. first pass effect ANS •the oral drugs go to liver via portal vein where some of the
drug becomes inactive •Only happens with oral medications
12. delayed gastric emptying ANS Food doesn't move like it should
13. Distribution ANS refers to the movement of the drug from the circulation to body
tissues
14. Factors affecting distribution ANS -blood flow to tissues
-protein binding
-blood brain barrier
-drug's affinity to the tissue
15. protein binding ANS Drugs bind with proteins in blood
Some drugs are highly protein bound and other are weakly protein bound
16. free drugs ANS drugs not bound to protein
17. Drug Toxicity ANS -Two highly protein bound drugs compete and one might
accumulate and cause a toxicity -it is important to know if you are administering highly
protein bound medications and monitor albumin levels in patients with liver or kidney
disease.
-Some drugs that are highly protein bound include: Warfarin
Furosemide
, GALEN NUR 210 EXAM STUDY GUIDE MODULES 1-3
Diazepam
18. Drug distribution and albumin ANS -A decrease in albumin levels decrease the
protein-binding sites, which means more of the free drug is circulated.
-This can be fatal with some meds.
-Free drugs are those not bound to protein, which means they are active in the body and
cause a pharmacologic response.
-Older adults, malnourished individuals, and those with liver or kidney disease have low
albumin levels.
19. Blood Brain Barrier (BBB) ANS -The BBB protects the brain from most drugs.
-Some meds are able to cross the BBB such as benzodiazepines.
-Drugs can cross the placenta and cause spontaneous abortion or alter fetal growth and
development.
20. Metabolism ANS •Chemically changes drug to a form that can be excreted •Liver
primary site
21. half-life ANS •the time it takes for the drug in the body to be reduced by half
22. Loading dose ANS use of a higher dose than what is usually used for treatment to
allow the drug to reach the critical concentration (therapeutic level) sooner
•Blood thinner
•Antibiotic
