FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS

WEEK 2 OCT. 13, 2020

OF PHARMACOLOGY

INTRODUCTION b. Chemical Nature – interaction of the drug

Pharmacology with receptors and enzymes in the body with
● the study of drugs simple alteration in chemical structures
● the study of biological effects of chemicals. (e.g. acetylcholine > methacholine >
Pharmacotherapeutics (Clinical Pharmacology) carbachol)
● The branch of pharmacology that deals with ✔ Focus of chemists and pharmacists
drugs, chemicals that are used in medicine Drug Size
for the treatment, prevention, and diagnosis ● Ideally however, a drug has a molecular
of disease in humans. weight between 100 and 1000.
● Addresses two key concerns: ● The higher the drug size the lower the
1. The drug’s effects the body, and diffusion to the cellular membranes.
2. The body’s response to the drug ● The drug size must be high enough to be
● Branch of pharmacology that nurses deal unique to a receptor (this determines the
with lower limit of drug size, 100 MW - a drug
Nursing Responsibilities: ideally should not be lower than this), but
1. Administering drugs must be low enough to still be able to move
2. Assessing drugs properly to the target cells.
3. Intervening to make the drug regimen more Drug reactivity and drug receptor Bonds
tolerable ● Three types:
a. Patients who have a hard time i. Covalent
swallowing ii. Electrostatic
b. IV medications that may be painful iii. Hydrophobic
▪ May irritate the vein if not ● What is important is not the actual nature of
administered slowly the chemical bond but the strand of the bond
4. Providing patient teaching about drug and and its significance to the drug receptor
drug regimens interaction
a. Poor patient teaching leads to low ● Specific short-acting effects –> Low
drug compliance reactivity drug
▪ In drug therapy, compliance ● Powerful long-lasting effects –> high
is the patient’s “degree of reactivity drug
correspondence of the actual Drug Shapes
dosing history with the ● Preparation such as oral, injectables,
prescribed drug regimen.” inhalations, topical, etc.
(Urquhardt, n.d.) ● Important in medication administration and
▪ Tuberculosis still exists not pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics
because of the lack of Rational Drug Design
treatments but because of 1. Tablet
inadequate patient teaching. 2. Capsules
5. Monitoring the overall patient care plans to 3. Lozenges
prevent medication errors 4. Syrup
Nature of Drugs 5. Tincture
a. Physical Nature – determines how the drug 6. Injectables
is administered in the body; affected by the 7. Topical
route of administration 8. Suppositories
✔ Focus of nursing pharmacology Drug Evaluation – drugs go through Phases of
studies before they get FDA approved.

NOTES BY: BALAGTAS & LOPEZ | EDITED BY: REYES, N. & RODRIGUEZ BSN 2-1 | PAGE 1
 FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS
WEEK 2 OCT. 13, 2020
OF PHARMACOLOGY

a. Preclinical Trials - tested on laboratory d. Category D: proven risk to human fetus; risk
animals to identify presumed effects on vs. benefit must be determined; could be
living tissue and to evaluate adverse effects used in life-threatening conditions
- tests the possible useful effects, e. Category X: proven risk to human fetus; risk
toxicity, & pharmacokinetics outweighs the benefit; drug should be
b. Phase I Studies - subjects: healthy human avoided during pregnancy
volunteers (usually men) Drug Schedules (Controlled Substances) –
- tests metabolism, biologic effects, ● CI – high potential of being abused, no
adverse effects, toxicity, & benefits (e.g. morphine and
pharmacokinetics methamphetamine)
c. Phase II Studies - subjects: patients ● CII – Codeine - special prescription, yellow
- tests therapeutic utility and dosage slip is given by the physician)
range ● CIII, CIV, CV – safe
d. Phase III Studies - subjects: patients (large
scale); monitors for adverse or unforeseen
effects
- tests safety and effectiveness
e. Phase IV - Post marketing Surveillance;
drug is released for general use, permitting
observation of its effects in a large
population
Drug Names
● Common (name by which a certain drug is
known as)
● Generic (name derived from its active
ingredient)
● Chemical (Chemical Formula)
● Brand (trade name given by the
manufacturer)

Pregnancy Categories – A to D (arranged from the

safest to the least safe due to the lack of extensive
studies); X (must never be used by pregnant
women)
a. Category A: no risk to fetus; studies show
no evidence of fetal harm
b. Category B: no risk in animal studies; well-
controlled studies in pregnant women are
not available; assumed little to no risk in
pregnant women
c. Category C: animal studies show risk to
fetus; controlled studies on pregnant women
are not available; risk vs. benefit must be
determined

NOTES BY: BALAGTAS & LOPEZ | EDITED BY: REYES, N. & RODRIGUEZ BSN 2-1 | PAGE 2