Drug Classification
A group of medications that have similar characteristics, actions, or therapeutic uses.
What is a drug class?
Pharmacodynamics describes what the ______ does to the drug.
What is the body?
Pharmacokinetics describes what the ______ does to the drug.
What is the body?
This type of drug activates a receptor.
What is an agonist?
The intended or desired effect of a medication.
What is the therapeutic effect?
The amount of time it takes for the amount of a drug in the body to decrease by 50%.
What is half-life?
Pediatric medication doses are commonly calculated using this measurement.
What is body weight?
Taking medications exactly as prescribed is called medication ________.
What is adherence?
The standardized name of a medication that is not a brand name.
What is the generic name?
A drug produces its effects by interacting with these structures on or within cells.
What are receptors?
The "A" in ADME stands for this.
What is absorption?
This type of drug blocks or prevents receptor activation.
What is an antagonist?
A patient takes acetaminophen and their fever decreases. This is an example of what?
What is a therapeutic effect?
A medication has a half-life of 8 hours. How much remains after one half-life?
50%
Why can't an adult medication dose simply be given to a child?
Children have different body size, organ function, metabolism, and medication responses.
A patient stops taking a medication because they cannot afford it. What is this an example of?
What is a financial barrier to adherence?
Amoxicillin belongs to this broad therapeutic category.
What are antibiotics?
A drug binds to a receptor and activates it.
What is an agonist?
The "D" in ADME refers to movement of a drug from the bloodstream into tissues.
What is distribution?
Morphine activates opioid receptors. Is it acting as an agonist or antagonist?
Agonist
An unintended but often predictable secondary response to a medication.
What is a side effect?
Approximately how much remains after two half-lives?
25%
Immature liver and kidney function in infants can affect which medication processes?
Metabolism and excretion
A patient says, "I stopped taking my blood pressure medicine because I feel fine." What should the nurse assess?
The patient's understanding of the medication and reason for taking it.
Lisinopril belongs to this pharmacologic class.
What are ACE inhibitors?
A drug binds to a receptor and blocks another substance from activating it.
What is an antagonist?
The liver is a major site of this ADME process.
What is metabolism?
Naloxone blocks opioid receptors and reverses opioid effects. Is it an agonist or antagonist?
Antagonist
A serious, harmful, or unexpected response to a medication.
What is an adverse effect/reaction?
The concentration range in which a drug is expected to be effective without producing unacceptable toxicity.
What is the therapeutic range?
Aging can decrease kidney function. What can happen to medications that are primarily eliminated by the kidneys?
They may accumulate, increasing the risk of toxicity.
A patient frequently forgets to take medications. Name one strategy that may improve adherence.
Medication organizer, phone alarm, written schedule, or linking medication with a daily routine.
The pharmacologic classification of a drug primarily describes this.
What is how the drug works/mechanism of action?
A patient receives a medication that blocks a receptor and decreases a physiological response. This is an example of what pharmacologic concept?
What is pharmacodynamics?
Put ADME in the correct order.
Absorption → Distribution → Metabolism → Excretion
A patient has respiratory depression after taking an opioid. Naloxone is administered. Explain how the medication works.
It antagonizes/blocks opioid receptors, reducing the effects of the opioid and helping reverse respiratory depression.
A patient develops facial swelling, difficulty breathing, and hypotension after receiving a medication. What serious reaction should the nurse suspect?
What is anaphylaxis/a severe allergic reaction?
Why are medications with a narrow therapeutic range especially important to monitor?
Because the effective dose and toxic dose are close together, increasing the risk of toxicity.
An older adult takes 10 medications and develops confusion after a new medication is added. What should the nurse consider?
Polypharmacy, drug interactions, adverse effects, and age-related changes in drug metabolism/excretion.
A patient refuses to take a prescribed medication. What should the nurse do FIRST?
Assess why the patient is refusing the medication and identify barriers such as side effects, cost, misunderstanding, complexity, or beliefs.