Orientation to Medications



Orientation to Medications

-Pharmacology- the study of drugs and their uses

-Pharmacodynamics- how the body responds to drugs

-Pharmacokinetics- the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of drugs

-Anatomy- the study of the body parts

-Physiology- the science that deals with the functions of cells, tissues, and organs of living organisms

-Pathology- the study of disease processes, including changes in the structure and function of the body

-Drug- a chemical substance used in the diagnosis, treatment, cure, or prevention of a disease

-Therapeutic effect- the desired or predicted physiological response that a drug causes

-Side effects- the desirable or undesirable effects of a drug apart from the primary purpose for giving the drug

-Drug sources

-Plants

-Animals

-Minerals

-Chemicals (synthetic drugs)

-Drug uses

-Disease prevention

-Disease treatment

-Disease diagnosis

-Disease cure

-2 other types of drugs

-Contraceptives

-Health maintenance

-Standards- rules ensuring uniform quality and purity

-United States Pharmacopoeia/National Formulary (USP/NF) - the official list of drug standards

-Drug names

-Chemical name- describes the chemical composition and molecular structure of the drug

-Generic name- the official nonproprietary name assigned by the manufacturer with the approval of the United States Adopted Names (USAN) Council

-Official name- usually the same as the generic name

-Trade name- also known as brand, product, or proprietary name; is the name under which the drug is sold by a specific manufacturer

-Drug references usually include

-Description- what the drug is made of

-Action- how the drug works

-Indications- what conditions the drug is used for

-Interactions- undesirable effects produced when drugs are taken with certain foods or with other drugs

-Contraindications- conditions under which the drug should not be used

-Precautions- specific warnings to consider when administering drugs to patients with specific conditions or diseases

-Adverse reactions- unintended and undesirable effects

-Dosage and administration- correct dose for each possible route of administration

-How supplied- how the drug is packaged and stored

-Common references

-Physicians Desk Reference (PDR)

-United States Pharmacopeia Dispensing Information (USPDI)

-Handbook of Nonprescription Drugs

-American Hospital Formulary Service (AHFS)

-Numerous other drug references available on the market

-Drug cards- can be designed according to your own needs

-Drug name- generic and trade names

-Drug classification

-Forms in which drug is available

-Action

-Uses of the drug

-Side effects

-Signs of drug poisoning (toxicity)

-Dosage range and usual adult dose

-Special instructions

-Note were you obtained the information

-Drug legislation

-Pure Food and Drug Act, passed 1906- this law states that only drugs listed in the USP/NF may be prescribed and sold

-Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA) of 1938- which replaced the 1906 act, spells out additional regulations concerning purity, strength, effectiveness, safety, labeling, and packaging of drugs

-Enforced b y the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

-Controlled Substances Act of 1970- identifies the drugs that are dangerous or subject to abuse, such as narcotics, depressants, and stimulants

-Enforced by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

-Categories of drugs

-Controlled substances

-Over-the-counter (OTC) drugs

-Prescription drugs

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