Foundations of Pharmacology
This term means “the study of drugs and their effects on the body.”
What is Pharmacology?
This acronym describes how the body processes drugs
ADME (Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion)
This term describes what a drug does to the body.
What is Pharmacodynamics?
This classification groups drugs by their treatment purpose.
What is Therapeutic?
This Canadian law regulates prescription drugs.
What is the Food and Drugs Act?
This type of antibiotic slows bacterial growth so the immune system can eliminate the infection.
What is a bacteriostatic antibiotic?
This antifungal drug is used topically to treat oral candidiasis and vaginal yeast infections.
What is nystatin?
This healthcare professional is responsible for verifying prescriptions, dispensing medications, and ensuring safety and accuracy
What is a Pharmacist?
This organ is the primary site of drug metabolism and contains the CYP450 enzymes
What is the Liver?
These are the sites where drugs bind to produce effects.
What are receptors?
This type of drug relieves symptoms but doesn’t cure.
What is a palliative drug?
This law mandates reporting of serious Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs)
What is Vanessa's Law?
This class of antibiotics, which includes penicillins and cephalosporins, must be used cautiously in patients with known allergies due to a high risk of cross-reactivity.
What are beta-lactam antibiotics?
This antiviral drug is used to treat HSV-1, HSV-2, and Varicella Zoster virus infections
What is acyclovir?
These are the four sources of drugs
What are plant-derived, animal-derived, mineral-based, and laboratory-synthesized?
This process reduces drug effectiveness before it reaches systemic circulation
What is First Pass Metabolism?
This index compares a drug’s effective dose to its toxic dose.
What is the Therapeutic Index (TI)?
This therapy provides substances the body lacks.
What is supplemental or replacement therapy?
This is the first action a nurse should take when an ADR is suspected.
What is stop the drug immediately?
This class of antibiotics can bind to calcium in developing teeth, causing discoloration, and is not recommended for children under 8 or pregnant individuals.
What are tetracyclines?
This drug class works by inhibiting ergosterol synthesis in fungal cell membranes, and includes fluconazole
What are azole antifungals?
This is the key difference between a drug and a medication
What is medications are drugs prescribed to treat something, while not all drugs are medications?
These drugs dissolve in fats and cross cell membranes easily.
What are lipophilic drugs?
This term refers to the amount of drug needed for an effect
What is potency?
This therapy is based on clinical judgment before diagnosis confirmation
What is Empirical?
This drug schedule includes opioids like morphine and fentanyl and has the highest potential for abuse.
What is Schedule 1?
This class of antibiotics inhibits folic acid synthesis and is often used to treat UTIs and respiratory infections
What are sulfonamides?
This virus requires antiretroviral therapy involving at least three medications.
What is Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)?
These are the five general purposes of drugs
What are cure, treat, diagnose, relieve, and prevent?
This factor causes slower drug clearance in older adults
What is reduced liver and kidney function?
These levels are taken to help ensure drugs stay within the therapeutic range.
What are Peak and Trough levels?
This therapy prevents disease, such as with vaccines.
What is prophylactic therapy?
This Canadian legislation controls substances with potential for abuse and categorizes them into schedules.
What is the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA)?
This class includes drugs like ciprofloxacin and works by inhibiting bacterial DNA replication, but should be avoided in children and pregnant individuals.
What are fluoroquinolones?
This antiviral drug must be started within 48 hours of symptom onset to reduce the duration of influenza A or B
What is oseltamivir phosphate (Tamiflu)?