PHARMACOLOGY

definition of pharmacology
- from the greek word pharmakon (poison) in classic greek and (drug) in
modern greek and "logia" (study of or knowledge of)
- a branch of medicine and biology concerned with the study of drug.
- it involves examining the interactions of chemical substances with living
system, understanding the properties of drugs and their actions, including the
interactions between drug molecules and drug receptors and how these
interactions elicit an effect.
INTRODUCTION TO DRUGS
- a drug is taken by mouth goes through 3 phases
PHARMACEUTIC
first phase of drug action
a drug in solid form (tablet or capsule) must disintegrate with small
particle to dissolve into liquid a process known as DISSOLUTION
PHARMACOKINETICS
process of drug movement to achieve drug action.
4 processes
1

ABSORPTION

DISTRIBUTION

METABOLISM (for biotransformation),

EXCRETION (or elimination)

nurse applies knowledge of pharmacokinetics when assesing the client

for possible adverse drug effects.
the nurse communicate assessment findings to members of the health
care team to promote safe and effective drug therapy for the client
PHARMACODYNAMICS PHASE
study of drug concentration and its effect to the body
DRUG RESPONSE = primary or secondary physiologic effect or BOTH
PRIMARY EFFECT - desirable effect
SECONDARY EFFECT - may be desirable or undesirable
(e,g) : dipenhydromine (Benadryl)
the primary effect is to treat the symptoms of allergy and the secondary effect
is a central nervous system depression that causes drowsiness.
secondary effect is undesirable when the client drives and automobile
but at bedtime it could be desirable (the drowsiness can cause mild

sedation. sleepiness)
LOADING DOSE
large initial dose (in need of immediate drug response)
DIGITALIZATION - process by which the minimum effective concentration
level is achieved in a short time
SIDE EFFECTS, ADVERSE REACTIONS, AND TOXIC EFFECTS
SIDE EFFECTS - physiologic effects not related to desired drug effects
in some health problems, side effects may be desirable
(e,g) dipenhydremide (benadryl) - at bedtime when its side effect of drowsiness
is beneficial.
some side effects are expected as part of drug therapy

the nurses includes teaching clients to report any side effect.

ADVERSE REACTIONS
it is more severe than side effects
unintended and occurring at normal dosage (e,g anaphylaxis or
cardiovascular collapse)
it is always undesirable
must always be reported and documented because they represent
variances from planned therapy.
TOXIC EFFECTS (toxicity)
it can be identified by monitoring the plasma (serum) therapeutic range
of the drug.
PHARMACOGENETICS
it is the effect of drug action that varies from a predicted drug response
because of genetic factors or hereditary
genetic factors can alter the metabolism of the drug in converting its
chemical form to an inert metabolite, thus the druf action can be enhanced
or diminished.
(e,g Africans american do not respond as well as Caucasians to some classes of
antihypertensive medications such as ACE inhibitors)
TOLERANCE/TACHYPHYLAXIS
it is a decreased responsiveness over the course of therapy. In contrast
tachyphylaxis is the rapid decreased in response to the drug.
tachyphylaxis : an acute tolerance
(e,g that can cause tachyphylaxis, includes narcotics, laxatives)
(e,g DRUG TOLERANCE to narcotics can result in decreased pain relief for the

client. if the nurse does not recognize the development of drug tolerance, the
clients request for more pain medication might b iterpreted as DRUGSEEKINGbehavior associated with ADDICTION
PLACEBO EFFECT
it is a physiologic benefit from a compound that may not have the
chemical structure of a drug effect.
the nurse can increase the therapeutic effect of the drug (e,g narcotics
for pain management) but violate the truth telling ethical principle if a non
therapeutic drug is presented as a therapeutic agent.