Pharmacology Chapter One Questions
Identify the following drugs as therapeutic or pharmacologic
A beta-adrenergic blocker is a pharmacologic class; an oral contraceptive is a therapeutic class; laxative is a therapeutic class; folic acid antagonist is a pharmacologic class; antianginal is a therapeutic class.
Explain why a patient might seek treatment from an OTC drug instead of a more effective prescription drug.
OTC medications do not require the patient to see a health care provider to write a prescription for the drug, saving time and cost for the office visit. OTC medications are also more readily available in a variety of settings than are prescription drugs. Patients often think they can effectively treat themselves and may believe that OTC medications do not have as many side effects as prescription medications.
What is a prototype drug, and how does it differ from other drugs in the same class?
Prototype drugs have typical or essential features of the drugs within a specific class. By learning the characteristics of the prototype drug, students may better anticipate the actions and adverse effects of other drugs in the same class.
A generic-equivalent drug may be legally substituted for a trade-name medication unless the medication is on a negative formulary or requested by the prescriber or patient. What advantages does this substitution have for the patient? What disadvantages might be caused by the switch?
The advantages of a generic drug include cost savings to the patient and the fact that the name will remain the same, regardless of which company makes the drug. However, because generic drug formularies may be different, the inert ingredients may be somewhat different and, consequently, may affect the ability of the drug to reach the target cells and produce an effect.
What is the difference between therapeutic and pharmacologic classifications?
The therapeutic classification is a method of organizing drugs based on their therapeutic usefulness in treating particular diseases. The pharmacologic classification refers to how an agent works at the molecular, tissue, and body system levels.