Pharmacology

• What is the main focus of the module DMD?

  Apply pharmacology principles to nursing practice
• What are the key topics covered in today's lectures?

  Introduction to pharmacology and medicines optimisation
• Who is the lecturer for the Introduction to Pharmacology?

  Sarah Oliver
• What does pharmacology relate to in nursing?

  Developing the health and wellbeing of patients
• What does pharmacokinetics refer to?

  What the body does to drugs
• What are the four processes of pharmacokinetics?

  Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion
• Why is understanding ADME important?

  Ensures drugs reach the right place safely
• What is absorption in pharmacokinetics?

  Process from administration site to blood
• What determines drug absorption?

  Physicochemical properties, formulation, route
• What must drugs be in to be absorbed?

  In solution
• What is a common feature of all cell membranes?

  Phospholipid bilayer
• How do drugs cross cell membranes?

  By passive or active transport
• What is passive transport?

  Drug moves without energy use
• What is active transport?

  Transfer of drugs against a concentration gradient
• What is bioavailability?

  Amount of drug reaching systemic circulation
• What is the first-pass effect?

  Metabolism of a drug by the liver
• Why is glyceryl trinitrate given via non-oral routes?

  It is destroyed by liver enzymes
• What is the bioavailability of intravenous drugs?

  100%
• What is the bioavailability of oral drugs?

  5% to 100%
• What are pharmaceutically equivalent drugs?

  Same active ingredient, strength, dosage form
• What is bioequivalence?

  Similar bioavailability rates of drugs
• What is the main site of oral absorption?

  Small intestine
• What factors affect drug absorption in the stomach?

  Acidity, time in stomach, blood flow
• Why are enteric coatings applied to drugs?

  To protect drugs from gastric acid
• What is the rectum's role in drug absorption?

  Local and systemic effect
• What factors affect absorption in the rectum?

  Blood flow, lesions, retention time
• What is the advantage of pulmonary drug delivery?

  Rapid absorption due to large surface area
• What is the main characteristic of transdermal drug delivery?

  Avoids first-pass metabolism
• What is the significance of intravenous drug administration?

  Retains 100% bioavailability
• What is the volume of distribution (Vd)?

  Parameter defining drug distribution in body
• How does Vd relate to drug concentration?

  Higher Vd means lower plasma concentration
• What happens to lipophilic drugs in the body?

  They bind to fat tissue
• How does drug distribution affect therapeutic effects?

  Drugs must reach tissues to be effective
• What is the role of plasma proteins in drug distribution?

  They bind drugs and affect distribution
• What is the significance of the first-pass effect?

  Reduces bioavailability of orally administered drugs
• What factors influence the absorption of drugs in the lungs?

  Blood flow, lung lining integrity, administration
• What is the effect of gastric pH on drug absorption?

  Low pH can prevent absorption of drugs
• Why are some drugs given via sublingual or buccal routes?

  For rapid absorption bypassing first-pass metabolism
• What is the importance of understanding pharmacodynamics?

  Helps predict drug effects and interactions
• How does the route of administration affect drug absorption?

  Different routes have varying absorption rates