Pharmacology HC21

Rights of Drug Administration

1. right patient 2. right medication/drug 3. right dose 4. right route of administration 5. right time of delivery 6. right documentation 7. right technique

Transdermal Patches

A dosage form that is applied to the skin and releases the drug over a period of time

generic name

A drugs official name, which is assigned by the U.S. Adopted Name Council.

Distribution

Drugs enter the body thru this process. After they enter the blood, drug molecules must cross capillary walls to enter tissues, reach cell membranes and enter cells

Excretion

Drugs that are sufficiently water-soluble are excreted unchanged in urine. This is the process of the drugs leaving the body

Types of Injections

Intradermal (ID); injections are administered into the dermal layer of the skin Subcutaneous (SC); injections are administered just below the dermal layer of skin Intramuscular (IM); injections are administered into the muscular tissue below the skin Intravenous (IV); injections are administered directly into a vein

Z-track method

Intramuscular technique for administering medication that requires the pulling back or displacement of tissues during the injection to prevent discoloration of the skin.

Local Reaction

Is fairly mild and results in itching, swelling, or redness at the site of administration.

Systemic Reaction

Is more severe and results in a rash or hives over the entire body.

Metabolism

Metabolism happens in a variety of body organs and tissues, but mostly in the liver, gut wall, kidneys and skin. after distribution, drugs are chemically altered to change them from a lipid-soluble for absorption to a water-based soluble form of excretion. this happens thru the process of metabolism

oral administration (PO)

Method that involves administering a drug through the mouth.

Remote Action

Occurs when a drug affects a part of the body that is distant from the site of administration.

Systemic action

Occurs when a drug is carried by the bloodstream through the body.

Oral Medication

Taken by mouth and swallowed

Drip Rate

The rate the solution will be infused; unit of measure is mL/hr or gtts/min

Dispense

To dispense a drug means that a drug is handed over to the patient to take at another time.

Aspiration

a technique used to check that the needle is not in a blood vessel.

Physician's Desk Reference (PDR)

a valuable tool that medical assistants and physicians can use to quickly reference information about medications. PDR is printed annually.

prescription abbreviations

abbreviations are used with filling out prescription forms.

medication containers

ampules; glass containers with a "stem" that hold a single dose of medication vials; glass or plastic containers with a rubber top. they can hold either a single dose or multiple doses of medication cartridge units; are prefilled, disposable containers that contain a single dose of medication. they are inserted into non-disposable injection devices.

Topical Medication

applied directly to the skin

Transdermal Medication

applied through a patch that is adhered the skin

Instillation Medication

applied through droplets

Liquid Perperations

are drugs that have been dissolved or suspended, usually in water or alcohol. Can be administered orally, paranterally or by inhalation or instillation.

Controlled Substance

are drugs that have the potential for abuse or addiction, these drugs are regulated by the DEA

Look-alike, Sound-alike drugs (LASA)

are drugs with similar length names or groups of similar characters in names.

Semisolid Preparation

are often topical medication, such as lotions liniments, and ointments. semisolid medications include suppositories.

Solid Preperations

are typically thought of as "pills" and are delivered orally, buccally or sublingually.

Needles

attach to syringes for the administration of medication

Syringes

available in disposable and non disposable forms. it is most common to use plastic syringes that are completely disposable

Syringe parts

barrel; the cylinder marked with measurement calibrations and holds the medication plunger; the plastic rod with a rubber stopper that fits inside the barrel. the plunger is used to draw in and push out medication flange; is the rim used for guiding the plunger tip; is the point where the needle is attached to the syringe. 2 types are the slip-tip or leur-lok

Drug Effects

by definition, all drugs affect the body in one way or another. they are either desirable or not desirable.

Compounding Pharmacies

create customized medications that meet patient's unique needs.

drip rate equation

drip rate= mL of fluid * drip set/ min of infusion also written as; milliliters of fluid x drip set divided by minutes of infusion

Rectal Medications

enema, suppository

Specialty Pharmacies

focus on high cost, patient-centered, and specialty medications.

Parenteral Medication

given by injection or IV

Tall Man Lettering

highlights the differences between similar drug names by capitalizing and bolding dissimilar letters. ex; hydraALAZINE and hydrOXYzine. The ISMP also maintains a list of drug names with the recommended, bolded tall man letters

Apothecary System

is a system that was created in old england to measure weight and volume Weight; Grain (gr) Dram (dr) ounce (oz) pound (lb) Volume; minim (m) fluidram (fldr) fluidounce (floz) pint (pt) quart (qt) gallon (gal)

Prescription

is a written order for a medication. it includes directions for dispensing and administering medications.

Drug Allergy

is an adverse and often harmful reaction to a drug. Drug allergies can be local or systemic.

Proportion

is an equation that shows equality between two ratios.

Anaphalaxis

is an extreme systemic reaction that includes the inability to breath due to bronchial constriction or swelling of the tongue

Chemical Name

is the drug's molecular structure and chemical components

trade name/brand name

is the name which a drug is registered with the U.S. Patent office. This name is exclusively used by the pharmaceutical company that provides the drug.

Drug Route

is the way in which a drug is administered to a patient

Intravenous line (IV line)

is used to administer a large amount of fluid or medication over a long period of time, drop by drop. only certain medications can be administered through an IV, including normal saline, dextrose in water, and Ringer's Solution

Drug Interaction

is when one drug interferes with the effects of another drug, either by diminishing or increasing the effects of the drug. ex; some antibiotics may null the intended effects of oral contraceptives.

The Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP)

maintains an up to date list of look=alike drug names

Parenteral Nutrition

medication that doesn't pass through the digestive system, it's injected into the body. primary routes include injections and IV therapy.

Topical Administration

medications applied to the skin in the form of lotions, liniments and ointments. should be applied by medical assistant with sterile tongue depressor or cotton swab

Buccal Medication

placed between the cheek and the gums in the mouth and then absorbed by the mucus membrane

Sublingual Medication

placed under the tongue and absorbed

parts of the needle

point; the sharpened end of the needle bevel; the flat, slanted end of the needle lumen; the hollow opening at the end of the needle shaft; the hollow steel tube

Nuclear Pharmacies

prepare radioactive medications for patient administration.

Macrodrio sets

release large drops. typical sets are available in 10-, 12-, or 15- sets. in a 10- set, it takes 10 drops to equal 1 ML

Microdrip Sets

release much smaller drops of fluid. it takes 60 drops to equal 1 ML. these sets are used to limit the volume of medication that's infused into the patient

Intravenous (IV)

release of fluids directly into the bloodstream

Side Effects

secondary effects of a drug. ex; side effects of an oral contraceptive may be nausea or weight gain

Ratio

shows the relationship between two quantities/values

Inhilation Medication

sprayed into the nose or mouth

The English system of measurement

the common system of measurement using miles, feet, ounces, pounds, etc.

Therapeutic Effects

the desired effects of a drug. ex; the therapeutic effect of an oral contraceptive medication is the prevention of conception

gauge (G)

the diameter of a needle. gauges typically range from 19G to 30G. the larger the number, the smaller the diameter.

Drip Set

the number of drops it takes to equal 1 ML

SIG

the signature, which include the letters SIG followed by directions to the patient for taking the medication.

Administer

to administer a drug means that the drug is actually given to the patient, either orally, by injection, or by the approved route of administration.

Prescribe

to prescribe a drug means that a medical provider with prescribing authority has given a written order for a patient to be given medication by a pharmacist.

Absorption

unless the drug is given intravenously, drug molecules must cross tissue membranes to enter the blood

Local Action

when a drug acts on the area to which it is administered. ex; a topical application of anti-itch medication acts on skin where it is applied