Pharmacology1 Identify key events in the history of pharmacology.

i Likely began when a human first used a plant to relieve symptoms of disease. ii Herbal medicine has been practiced in virtually every culture dating to

antiquityiii Babyloniansiv Chinese recorded Pen Tsaov Egyptians followed by archiving on Eber’s papyrusvi Galen Greek physician

a First recorded reference to pharmacology was by Samuel Dale in 1693, but it is thought to have begun in early 1800s

vii Freidrich Serturner firs isolated morphine from opium in 1805viii Recognized in Estonia 1847 as a distinct disciplineix American: John Jacob Abel Univeristy of Michigan 1890

2 Compare and Contrast the terms drug, pharmacology and pharmacotherapyi Drug—is any substance that is taken to prevent, cure or reduce symptoms of a

medical conditionii Pharmacology—is most simply defined as the study of medicines.

a Ranges from how drugs are administerdb Where they travelc Responses that are produced

iii Pharmacotherapy—application of drugs for the purpose of disease prevention and treatment of suffering—

iv Drugs are a form of medical intervention given to improve a patient’s condition or to prevent harm. Pharmacotherapy begins when the patient experiences signs or symptoms that cause dissatisfaction with current or future health status.

3 Explain the importance of pharmacotherapy to clinical nursing practicei --Role of nurse is to design interventions that meet the desired health goals of

the patient. ii --Pharmacotherapy is a critical intervention

Important when caring for patients because of the potential consequences of medication errorsImportant to know

iii Name and drug classInded or proposed useEffects on the bodyContraindicationsSpecial considerations, such as how age, weight, body fat distribultion and pathophysiologic states affect pharmacotherpeutic response.Expected and potential adverse eventsWhy the drug has been prescribed for this particular patientHow the drug is supplied by the pharmacyHow the drug is to be administered, including dose rangesWhat nursing process considerats related to the drug apply to this patient

Major goal of studying pahm is to eliminate medication errosrs and to limit the number and se verity of adverse drug events because many are preventable.

4 Using specific examples, explain the difference between the pharmacologic and theraperutic methods of classifying drugs

a No perfect drugb Used to classify and therapeutic and pharmacologicc The key difference is that the therapeutic classification describes what is being

treated by the drug. The usefulness in treating a specific disease. The key is to simply state what condition is being treated by the particular drug. Anti- often refers to a therapeutic classification.

d Pharmacologic classification describes how the drug acts. Addresses a drug’s mechanism of action or how a drug produces its effect in the body. A drug’s pharmacologic classification is more specific than its therapeutic classification and requires an understanding of biochemistry and physiology. Pharmacologic classifications may use a drugs chemical name.

e Some can be all of the above

5 Identify the advantages of using prototype drugs to study pharmacology

a It is common and useful practice to select a single drug from a class and compare all other medications in the class to this representative medication.

b By learning about the prototype drug in depth, the actions and adverse effects of other drugs in the same class may be predicted.

c The prototype is the drug to which all others in a class are compared.

6 Classify drugs by their chemical, generic and trade namesa Chemical names are assigned using standard nomenclature established by the

IUPAC. Only one chemical name.b Helpful in predicting a drug’s physical and chemical properties. c Generic name of a durs is assigned by the United States Adopted Name Council.d Only one generic name for each druge Trade name sometimes called the proprietary product of brand name is assigned

by the pharmaceutical company marketing the drug. The trade is intentionally selected to be short and easy to remember so that patients will remember it.

f Drugs with more than one active generic ingredient is called a combination drug.

7 Compare the advantages and disadvantages of a pharmaceutical company being granted exclusivity for the development of a new druga Pharmaceutical company exclusive rights to name and market a drug for a certain

number of years after it is approved. During the period of exclusivity competing companies are not allowed to market generic versions of the product

b --5 years and maybe extended for 3 years if new indication found.c Use in pediatrics 6months

d Orphan drugs have 7 yearse Price of medication determined during exclusivity

8 Analyze possible differences between generic drugs and their brand-name equivalents.

a Generic can be cheaper than brand name

b The key to comparing brand name drugs and their generic equivalents lies in measuring the bioavailability of the two agents.

c --Difference in bioavilability depends on the specific circumstances of pharmacotherapy

d Internet pharmacies changed the exclusivity game