pharmocology

• What is the main focus of the NU1303 course?

  To develop knowledge of pharmacology
• What are the stages of pharmacokinetics that students will explore in this course?

  The stages include absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion
• How can the principles of pharmacology be applied in nursing practice?

  By understanding how drugs affect patients and managing their administration
• What health issues is Sarah experiencing?

  Frequent tension headaches and trouble falling asleep
• What lifestyle factors contribute to Sarah's health issues?


  Long shifts, high-stress situations, and occasional sugary snacks
• How does Sarah's consumption of sugary snacks affect her energy levels?

  She feels alert immediately after eating but experiences a dip in energy later
• What is the definition of absorption in pharmacokinetics?

  The process of the drug traveling from the site of administration to the bloodstream
• What are the common routes of drug administration?

  • Sublingual
  • Buccal
  • Intravenous
  • Subcutaneous
  • Oral
  • Topical
  • Intramuscular
  • Transdermal
  • Rectal
  • Inhalation
• Why do we administer medications through different routes?

  To optimize drug absorption and effectiveness based on the patient's condition
• What is the first pass effect in pharmacokinetics?

  It refers to the metabolism of a drug before it reaches systemic circulation
• What is drug distribution in pharmacokinetics?

  It is the transport of a drug in the body by the bloodstream to its site of action
• What factors can affect drug distribution?

  Blood flow, tissue permeability, and protein binding
• What is the primary organ responsible for drug metabolism?

  The liver
• What are the two phases of drug metabolism?

  Phase I and Phase II
• What are metabolites?

  Products of metabolism that are usually inactive
• What factors can affect drug metabolism?

  Genetics, age, ethnicity, pregnancy, gender, disease, food, and other drugs
• What is the primary organ responsible for drug excretion?

  The kidneys
• What is drug clearance?

  The rate at which a drug is removed from the body
• How does renal clearance influence drug half-life?

  It determines how quickly the drug concentration decreases in the body
• What can happen if a drug is not excreted efficiently by the kidneys?

  It can accumulate in the body, leading to toxicity
• What are the routes through which drugs can be excreted?

  • Bile
  • Breast milk
  • Urine
  • Faeces
  • Sweat
  • Breath
• What is pharmacodynamics?

  It is what a drug does to the body and the mechanism of its action
• What is an example of a drug that acts as an osmotic laxative?

  Magnesium Citrate
• How does Magnesium Citrate work?

  It attracts and binds with water, pulling it into the bowel
• What is the role of receptors in pharmacodynamics?

  Drugs bind to specific receptors to cause an action
• What is an example of a drug that inhibits an enzyme for a desired effect?

  Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)
• How do MAOIs affect serotonin and dopamine levels?

  They block monoamine oxidase, increasing their concentration in the central nervous system
• What is the function of Naloxone?

  It reverses or blocks the effects of opioids
• How do beta blockers affect heart rate?

  They reduce the heart rate and the force of blood pumping
• What do calcium channel blockers do?

  They reduce the amount of calcium entering heart and blood vessel cells
• What is the difference between potency and efficacy of a drug?

  Potency is the amount needed to produce an effect, while efficacy is the capacity to produce an effect
• What resources are available for further learning in pharmacology?

  • End of session quiz
  • Video on drug absorption
  • Article on advantages/disadvantages of drug administration routes
• Drug interactions can be classified as drug-disease, drug-food, or drug-drug.
• The most common type of interaction is the drug-drug interaction.
• Pharmacokinetic (PK) interactions involve changes to absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, or bioavailability.
• When two drugs interact with one another, it may result in increased toxicity (adverse reactions) or decreased effectiveness.
• The most common type of interaction is drug-drug.
• Avoid taking drugs with similar effects at the same time (e.g., two antihistamines).
• There are three types of PK interactions: synergistic, antagonistic, and competitive.
• Administration


  In the act of giving a patient a medication in a prescribed manner, such as preparing, giving, and monitoring the medication.