PHARMACOTHERAPEUTICS SOURCES OF DRUG INFORMATION

▪ Nurses deal with Pharmacotherapeutics, or Clinical ▪ Drug Labels

Pharmacology - identifies the brand and generic names for the drug,
- the branch of pharmacology that uses drugs to treat, the drug dosage, the expiration date, and special drug
prevent, and diagnose disease. warnings.
- Clinical pharmacology addresses two key concerns: ▪ Package inserts
1. the drug’s effects on the body - contains all of the chemical and study information
2. the body’s response to the drug. that led to the drug’s approval.
▪ Nursing Drug Guide (NDG)
The nurse is in a unique position regarding drug therapy - has drug monographs organized alphabetically and
because nursing responsibilities include the following: includes nursing implications and patient teaching
▪ Administering drugs points.
▪ Assessing drug effects ▪ Physician’s Drug Reference (PDR)
▪ Intervening to make the drug regimen more tolerable - is a compilation of the package insert information
▪ Providing patient teaching about drugs and the drug from drugs used in this country, along with some drug
regimen advertising.
▪ Monitoring the overall patient care plan to prevent
medication errors DRUG EVALUATION (CLINICAL TRIALS)
1. Preclinical trials
SOURCES OF DRUGS: - involve testing of potential drugs on laboratory
1. Natural sources animals to determine their therapeutic and adverse
▪ Plants effects.
- used as medicines since prehistoric times; source of 2. Phase I studies
chemicals that are developed into drugs - test potential drugs on healthy human subjects.
- EX. morphine (Opium), colchicine (autumn crocus) 3. Phase II studies
Cocaine (cocoa leaves) - test potential drugs on patients who have the
▪ Animals or Biologic disease the drugs are designed to treat.
- are agents naturally produced in animal cell, by 4. Phase III studies
microorganisms, or by the body itself. - test drugs in the clinical setting to determine any
- EX. hormones, monoclonal antibodies, natural blood unanticipated effects or lack of effectiveness.
products, antibiotics, and vaccines.
- Penicillium chrysogenum GETTING READY TO GIVE DRUGS
2. Inorganic compounds ▪ Always check the written order
▪ e.g. Lithium carbonate Cisplatin ▪ Limit interruption and distraction
3. Synthetic ▪ Wash your hands
▪ e.g Ecstasy or Molly - stimulants that mimic the effect ▪ Keep drugs in their containers or wrappers until at the
of cocaine patient’s bedside
▪ Avoid touching pills or capsules
REGULATION OF DRUGS ▪ Never give drugs prepared by someone else
▪ FDA regulates the development and sale of drugs. ▪ Follow sterile technique when handling syringes or
▪ Controlled Substances needles
- drugs with abuse potential ▪ Remain alert to drug names that sounds or look alike.
▪ Generic drugs Giving the wrong drug can have serious adverse effects.
- are drugs no longer protected by patent and can be
produced by companies other than the one that TYPES OF DRUG PREPARATION
developed it. ▪ Aerosol spray of foam – a liquid, powder, or foam
▪ Over-the-counter (OTC) deposited in a thin layer on the skin by air pressure.
- drugs are available without a prescription and are ▪ Aqueous solution – one or more drugs dissolved in
deemed safe when used as directed. water.
▪ Orphan drugs ▪ Aqueous suspension – one or more drugs finely divided
- are drugs that have been discovered but are not in a liquid such as water.
financially viable and therefore have not been “adopted” ▪ Elixir – a sweetened and aromatic solution of alcohol
by any drug company. used as a vehicle for medicinal agents.
- useful in treating a rare disease, or they may have ▪ Extract – a concentrated form of a drug made from
potentially dangerous adverse effects. vegetables or animals.
▪ Syrup – an aqueous solution of sugar often used to
disguise unpleasant tasting drugs.
▪ Caplet – a solid form, shaped like a capsule, coated and PARENTERAL DRUGS
easily swallowed. ▪ Drugs given by the parenteral route are injected
▪ Capsule – a gelatinous container to hold a drug in through the skin. They must be injected intradermally,
powder, liquid, or oil form. subcutaneously, intramuscularly, or intravenously;
▪ Tablet – a powdered drug compressed into a hard small ▪ There are 4 primary reason for giving drugs
disc parenterally:
▪ Lozenge (troche) – a flat, round, or oval preparation 1. Unable to take oral drugs
that dissolves and releases a drug when held in the 2. Need a drug that acts rapidly
mouth. 3. Need a constant blood level of the drug
▪ Pill – one or more drugs mixed with a cohesive material, 4. Need drugs such as Insulin , which are not made in
in oval, round, or flattened shapes. an oral form.
▪ Powder – a finely ground drug or drugs; some are used
internally, other externally.
▪ Gel or jelly – a clear or translucent semi solid that
liquefies when applied to the skin.
▪ Lotion – a medication in a liquid suspension applied to
the skin.
▪ Ointment (salve, unction) – a semisolid preparation of
one or more drugs used for application to the skin less
than an ointment.
▪ Paste – a preparation like an ointment, but thicker and
stiff, that penetrates the skin less than an ointment.
▪ Cream – a non-greasy, semi solid preparation used on
the skin.
▪ Liniment – a medication mixed with alcohol, oil, or
soapy emollient and applied to the skin.
▪ Transdermal patch – a semipermeable membrane
shaped in the form of a disc or patch that contains a drug
to be absorbed through the skin over a long period of
time.
▪ Suppository – one several drugs mixed with a firm base
such as gelatin and shaped for insertion into the body;
the base dissolves gradually at body temperature,
releasing the drug.

ROUTES FOR DRUG ADMINISTRATION