MEDICATIONS:
body tissues, esp. the nervous system .
Medication ----- is a substance administered for the
diagnosis, cure, treatment, or relief of a symptom or for
prevention of disease.
drug ---- are illicitly obtained substance such as heroin,
cocaine, amphetamines.
prescription ----- the written direction for the
administration of a drug.
four kinds of names in drugs;
1. generic name------ used throughout the drug’s
lifetime
2. trade name or brand name----- is the name
given by the drug manufacturer and identifies it
aa property of that company.
3. official name---- is the name under which a drug
is listed in one of the official publication.
4. chemical name. ----- is the name by which a
chemist knows it, this name describes the
constituents of the drug.
Pharmacology ----- is the study of the effect of drugs on
living organisms.
Types of Doctors Order
1. Standing order ----- it is carried out until the
specified period of time or until it is
discontinued by another order.
2. Single order -- it is carried out for one time
only.
3. STAT ORDER -----it is carried out at once or
immediately.
4. PRN Order ----- it is carried out as the patient
requires.
Parts of Legal Doctor’s Order
 Name of the patient
 Date and time
 name of drug
 dose of drug
 route of administration
 time of frequency
 signature of the physician
Effects of the Drug
 Therapeutic effect ---- the primary effects
intended, that is the reason the drug is
prescribed. also called desired effect.
 side effect ---- the effect of the drug that is
unintended also called the secondary effect.
 drug allergy --- the immunologic reaction of the
drug.
 anaphylactic reaction -----a severe allergic
reaction which usually occurs immediately
following the administration of the drug.
 drug tolerance ----- a deceased physiologic
response to the repeated doses of a drug that
occurs when the rate of administration exceeds
the rate of the metabolism or excretion.
 cumulative effect ----- it is the increasing
response to the repeated doses of a drug that
occurs when the rate of administration exceeds
the rate of metabolism or excretion.
 idiosyncratic effect ----- it is the unexpected
peculiar response to the drug either
overresponse , under response, different
response than expected.
 drug abuse ---- inappropriate intake of a
substance, either continually or periodically.
 drug dependence ----- it is a person’s reliance to
take a drug or substance.
 addiction ----- it is due to biochemical changes in
 habituation ---- it is the emotional reliance on a
drug to maintain a sense of well being
accompanied by feelings of need or cravings
of the drug.
 synergism ----- the combined effects of drug is
greater than the sum of each individual agent
acting independently
Therapeutic actions of drugs
1. palliative ----- relieves the symptoms of a
disease but not affect the disease itself e.g.
antineoplastic agents for cancer.
2. curative ---- treats the disease condition… e.g.
antibiotic for infection.
3. supportive ---- sustains body functions until
other treatment of the body’s response can
take over. e.g mannitol to reduce ICP (intra
cranial pressure) in a clients for surgery due to
brain tumor.
4. substitutive --- replaces body fluids or
substances… e.g insulin injection for diabetes
mellitus.
5. chemotherapeutic ----- destroys malignant cells .
e.g cyclophosphamide for cancer of the prostate
gland.
6. restorative ---- returns the body health. e.g
multivitamins
Principles in Administering Medication
1. Observe the “7 rights” of drug administration.
 Right drug …… read the label three times.
 Right dose ---- know the usual dose of the drug..
calculate the correct amount.
 Right time ---- standard time may be followed
by the institution.
 Right route ---- check the route of the
administration
 Right patient ---- identify patient by; checking
the ID band, asking him to state his name.
 Right recording ----- sign medication sheet
immediately after the administration of the
drug.
 right approach
2. Practice asepsis ---- wash hands before and
after preparing medications.
3. Nurses who administer medications are
responsible for their own actions. question any
order that you consider incorrect (may be
unclear or inappropriate)
4. Be knowledgeable about the medications that
you administer.
5. keep narcotics in a locked place.
6. Use medication that are in clearly labeled
containers. relabelling of drugs is the
responsibility of the pharmacist.
7. Return liquid that are cloudy in color he
pharmacy.
8. Before administering the medication , identify
the client correctly.
9. Do not leave the medication at the bedside.
stay with the client until he actually takes the
medications.
10. The nurse who prepares the drug administers it.
only the nurse who prepared the drug knows what
the drug is. do not accept endorsement of
medications.
11. If the client vomits after taking the medication,
report this to the nurse in charge or physician.
12. preoperative medications are usually
discontinued during the post operative period
unless ordered to be continued.
13. When a medication error is made, report it
immediately to the nurse in charge or physician. To
implement necessary measures immediately. This
may prevent any adverse effects of the drug.
14. When a medication error is made, report
immediately to the nurse in charge or physician. to
implement necessary measures immediately. This
may prevent any adverse effects of the drug.
Routes of Drug Administration:
1. Oral
Advantages:
a. most convenient
b. usually less expensive
c. safe, does not break skin barrier
disadvantagesor other alkaline substances
a. inappropriate for client with nausea and vomiting
b. drugs may have unpleasant taste or odor
c. inappropriate if client cannot swallow and if GIT has
reduced motility.
d. drug may discolor the teeth
e. drug may be aspirated by seriously ill patient.
Drug forms for oral administration:
1. solid --- tablet, capsule, pill, powder
2. liquid ---- syrup, suspension, emulsion, elixir, milk
syrup --- sugar based liquid medication
suspension --- water based liquid medication. shake the
bottle before use of medication to property mix it.
emulsion ---- oil based liquid medication
elixir --- alcohol based liquid medication
2. Sublingual ----- a drug that is placed under the
tongue, where it dissolves.
3. buccal ---- a medication is held in the mouth against
the mucous membranes of the cheek until the drug it
dissolves.
4. topical ---- application of medications to a
circumscribed area of the body .
a. dermatologic ---- includes lotions, liniments and
ointments.
b. ophthalmic ---- includes instillations and irrigations.
1. instillations ----to provide an eye medication that the
client requires.
2. irrigation ---- to clear the eye of noxious or other
foreign material.
c. otic ---- includes instillations and irrigations
d. nasal --- nasal instillations usually are instilled for
their astringent effect (to shrink swollen mucous
membrane), to loosen secretions and facilitate
drainage or treat infections.
e. inhalation --- use of nebulizers, metered dose
inhalers
f. vaginal ---
5. rectal ---- can be used when the drug has
objectionable taste or odor.
6. parenteral ---- the administration of medication by a
needle
a. intradermal --- under the epidermis
b. subcutaneous ---- into the subcutaneous tissues
c. intramuscular ---- in the muscle
d. intravenous ---- into the vein
e. intra arterial ---- into the artery
f. intraosseous --- Into the bone
1. intradermal -----the administration of a drug into the
dermal layer of the skin beneath the epidermis.