NR 293 Exam 1 Study Guide

Study Guide for NR 293 Exam 1 Chapter 2 • Define the common terms used in pharmacology o Pharmacokinetic- the study of what the body does to the drug; involves the processes of absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion; the study of what happens to a drug from the time it is put into the body until the parent drug and all metabolites have left the body; represent the drug absorption into, distribution and metabolism within, and excretion from the body o Pharmacodynamics- the study of what the drug does to the body; involves drug–receptor relationships. o First-pass effect- initial metabolism in the liver of a drug absorbed from the GI tract before the drug reaches systemic circulation through the bloodstream; reduces the bioavaibility of less than 100%, whereas drugs administered by the intravenous route are 100% bioavailable o Bioavaibility- a measure of the extent of a drug absorption for a given drug and route (from 0% to 100%) o Protein-binding o Onset of action- time required for a drug to elicit a therapeutic response after dosings o Peak Effect – the time required for a drug to reach its max. therapeutic response o Duration of action- the length of time the concentration of a drug in the blood or tissues is sufficient to elict a response o Half-life – in pharmacokinetics, the time required for half of an administered dose of drug to be eliminated by the body, or the time it takes for the blood level of a drug to be reduced o Therapeutic index- ratio btwn toxic and therapeutic concentrations of a drug o Trough level- lowest blood level; the lowest concentration of a drug reached in the body after it falls from its peak level, usually measured in blood sample for therapeutic drug monitoring o Peak level- highest blood level; done usually at 12th level after 3rd dose; the max. concentration of a drug in the body after administration, usually measured in a blood sample for therapeutic drug monitoring o Agonist- drug that binds to and stimulates the activity of one or more receptors in the body o Antagonist- drug that binds to and inhibits the activity of one or more receptors in the body; also called inhibitors • Type of therapy: o Acute therapy- often involves more intensive drug treatment and implemented in acutely ill (those with rapid onset of illness) or critically ill; often needed to sustain life or treat disease  Ex: vasopressors to maintain BP and cardiac output after open heart surgery  Ex: intensive chemotherapy for pt with newly diagnosed cancer o Maintenance therapy- doesn’t eradicate problems the pt may already have but will prevent progression of a disease or condition; used for treatment of chronic illnesses  Ex: HTN it will maintain the pt’s BP within given limits which prevents certain end-organ damage  Ex: oral contraceptives