Pharmacology

• Drug - any substance that alters normal body function or structure, including those used to treat disease.
• Pharmaceutical agent - drug intended for use by humans
• Medication - pharmaceutical agents prescribed by physicians
• Pharmaceutical - the science dealing with drugs
• Medication - drugs prescribed by physicians
• Pharmacology- the study of drugs, their origin, properties, and their effects upon living organism
• Pharmacokinetics - the movement of drugs through the body
• Pharmacology


  The study of drugs, their origin, nature, properties and their effects upon living organism
• Pharmacotherapy


  The use of drugs to prevent, diagnose, or treat signs, symptoms and disease process
• Pharmacodynamics


  What the drug does to the body
• Pharmacokinetics


  What the body does to the drug
• Process of drug transport (ADME)

  1. Absorption

  2. Distribution

  3. Metabolism

  4. Excretion
• Factors influencing drug absorption

  • Dosage form
  • Route of administration
  • Blood flow
  • GI function
  • Presence of food or other drugs
• Side effects


  Physiologic effects not related to desired drug effects, expected and normal
• Adverse reactions


  Any undesired responses to drug administration, more severe than side effects, abnormal and reportable
• Toxic effects


  Life-threatening effects, emergency, result from excessive amounts of drug and may cause reversible/irreversible damage to body tissues
• Ten rights of medication administration

  • Right route
  • Right to refuse
  • Right time & frequency
  • Right drug-drug interaction
  • Right of the patient
  • Right education and information
  • Right drug
  • Right history and assessment
  • Right dose
  • Right documentation
• Be familiar with the medication
• Assess the patient
• Evaluate responses
• Allergic responses


  • Difficulty of breathing
  • Rashes /pruritus
  • Nausea / vomiting
  • Wheezing
  • Palpitations
• Testing & clinical trials of drugs

  1. Phase I

  2. Phase II

  3. Phase III

  4. Phase IV
• Nursing considerations in drug administration
• Hepatotoxic drugs


  • Acetaminophen
  • Erythromycin
  • Iron overdose
  • Isoniazid
  • Rifampicin
  • Sulfonamides
• Nephrotoxic drugs


  • Acetaminophen
  • Acyclovir
  • Aminoglycosides
  • Amphotericin B
  • Ciprofloxacin
  • Rifampicin
  • Sulfonamides
  • Tetracycline
  • Contrast medium
• Ototoxic drugs


  • Aminoglycosides
  • Aspirin
  • Chloroquine
  • Loop diuretics
• Drugs that can cause staining

  • Macrodantin
  • Iron
  • Lugol's solution
  • Tetracycline
• Teratogenic drugs


  • Fluoroquinolones
  • Aminoglycosides
  • Tetracycline
  • Ace inhibitor
  • Lithium
  • Oral hypoglycemic Agents
• Drugs that can cause disulfiram reaction

  • Metronidazole
  • Cephalosporins
  • Oral hypoglycemic Agents
• Sympathetic nervous system


  Also termed as adrenergic thoracolumbar system, fight or flight system, responsible for preparing the body to respond to stress, epinephrine and norepinephrine are the major neurotransmitters
• Adrenergic receptor organ cells

  • Alpha 1
  • Alpha 2
  • Beta 1
  • Beta 2
• Sympathomimetics


  Drugs that mimic the effect of the norepinephrine
• Sympatholytics


  Drugs that block the effect of norepinephrine
• Parasympathetic nervous system


  Also termed as cholinergic/ craniosacral system, acetylcholine is the major neurotransmitter
• Parasympathomimetics


  Drugs that mimic acetylcholine
• Parasympatholytics


  Drugs that block acetylcholine
• Adrenergic drugs


  • Epinephrine
  • Norepinephrine
  • Albuterol
  • Isoproterenol
  • Ephedrine
  • Clonidine
  • Dopamine
  • Dobutamine
• Nursing responsibilities for adrenergic drugs
• Alpha adrenergic blockers


  • Non-selective (α1, α2): Phentolamine

  Selective (α1): Doxazosin, Prazosin
• Beta adrenergic blockers


  • Non-selective: Propranolol, Nadolol, Timolol

  Selective: Metoprolol, Atenolol, Acebutolol, Betaxolol, Esmolol