PharmacologyMEDICAL CAREERSEDEN AREA ROP

What is Pharmacology?

Pharmacology is the study of drugs and their actions, uses, properties and origins.

Drug: Any substance that causes a change to the body’s function and/or structure.

Drug Sources Plant:

Leaves of Eucalyptus makes cold remedies Tobacco

Animal: Sheep thyroid is a source of thyroxin, used in hypertension. Cod liver is used as a source of vitamin A and D.

Mineral Iron is used in treatment of iron deficiency anemia. Iodine is antiseptic. Iodine supplements are also used.

Synthetic When the nucleus of the drug from natural source as well as its

chemical structure is altered, we call it synthetic. Most of the drugs used nowadays (such as antianxiety drugs, anti

convulsants) are synthetic forms.

Drug Names Chemical Name: The chemical name gives a precise description of

chemical composition of the drug Used most by manufacturers and pharmacists EX: Chemical name for Vicodin: 4,5α-epoxy-3-methoxy-17-methylmorphinan-

6-one tartrate (1:1) hydrate (2:5) Generic Name: assigned by manufacturer who developed the drug

(official name) Often shortened derivative of chemical name EX: generic name for Vicodin: hydrocodone and acetaminophen

3. Brand Name (Trade name): name under which pharmaceutical manufacturer markets the drug and is owned by manufacturer

A drug may be marketed by more than one company Generic drug may have several brand names EX: Brand names for Vicodin: Liquicet, Lorcet, Lortab, Maxidone, Norco,

Vicodin, etc.

MA must be familiar with generic and brand name of each drug prescribed or administered in the office

Drug Routes Oral: taken by mouth Sublingual: placed under tongue and dissolves Buccal: placed inside cheek and dissolves Topical: ointment, cream applied to skin and absorbed Inhalation: inhaled into lungs Vaginal: inserted vaginally and absorbs into the vaginal walls Rectally: inserted rectally and absorbed into the walls of the rectum Parenteral: injected

ID: intradermal-injected into the dermis (2nd layer of skin) SC: subcutaneous-injected into the subcutaneous layer (3rd layer of skin) IM: intramuscular-into the muscle IV: intravenous- into a vein (MA’s cannot perform; only RN or above)

Routes of Administration

Route depends on:Type of drugDosage formIntended actionRapidity of response desired

How Medications Are Given

Prescribe: a written order is given to the patient to take to the pharmacy and have filled

Administer: The drug is given to the patient while in the medical office (example: giving a patient an injection)

Dispense: A drug is handed to the patient to be taken at a later time (example: samples given to patient)

Controlled Substance Act The Controlled Substances Act (CSA) was enacted into law by the

Congress of the United States as Title II of the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970. The CSA is the federal U.S. drug policy under which the manufacture, importation, possession, use and distribution of certain substances is regulated.

The legislation created five Schedules (classifications), with varying qualifications for a substance to be included in each.

Two federal agencies, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Food and Drug Administration, determine which substances are added to or removed from the various schedules.

Classification decisions are required to be made on criteria including potential for abuse and currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States.

Controlled Substance Act Schedule I: drugs with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. Schedule I drugs are the most

dangerous drugs of all the drug schedules with potentially severe psychological or physical dependence. Some examples of Schedule I drugs are:

heroin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), marijuana, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (ecstasy), meth, and peyote Schedule II: drugs with a high potential for abuse, less abuse potential than Schedule I drugs, with use potentially

leading to severe psychological or physical dependence. These drugs are also considered dangerous. Some examples of Schedule II drugs are:

cocaine, methamphetamine, methadone, hydromorphone, Demerol, oxycodone (OxyContin), fentanyl, Dexedrine, Adderall, and Ritalin

Schedule III: drugs with a moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence. Schedule III drugs abuse potential is less than Schedule I and Schedule II drugs but more than Schedule IV. Some examples of Schedule III drugs are:

Combination products with less than 15 milligrams of hydrocodone per dosage unit (Vicodin), Products containing less than 90 milligrams of codeine per dosage unit (Tylenol with codeine), ketamine, anabolic steroids, testosterone

Schedule IV: drugs with a low potential for abuse and low risk of dependence. Some examples of Schedule IV drugs are: Xanax, Soma, Darvon, Darvocet, Valium, Ativan, Talwin, Ambien

Schedule V: drugs with lower potential for abuse than Schedule IV and consist of preparations containing limited quantities of certain narcotics. Schedule V drugs are generally used for antidiarrheal, antitussive, and analgesic purposes. Some examples of Schedule V drugs are:

cough preparations with less than 200 milligrams of codeine or per 100 milliliters (Robitussin AC), Lomotil, Motofen, Lyrica

What is a Prescription?

A written order from a provider for the compounding, dispensing and administration of a

particular drug for a particular patient.

Parts of a Prescription1. Physician's name, address, telephone number,

and fax number Preprinted on form Provides info if pharmacist has a question and needs to

contact office2. Date

Pharmacist cannot fill prescription without date Prescription expires after a certain length of time after being

issued Usually 1 year except for controlled drugs

Parts of a Prescription Cont..

3. Patient's name and address Used for insurance billing and to properly dispense

medications4. Patient's age

Important in dispensing medications: Pharmacist double-checks physician's order Makes sure proper dose is being dispensed based on age

Parts of a Prescription Cont..5. Superscription

Rx symbol: Latin for recipe and means "take"6. Inscription

Name, form (tabs, caps, etc.) and strength (ex: 50 mg) of drug Example: Amoxil 250 mg

7. Subscription Directions to pharmacist

Generally used to designate number of doses to be dispensed To prevent prescription from being altered:

Use both numbers and letters to indicate quantityExample: #30 (thirty)

Parts of a Prescription Cont..8. Signatura (sig)

Latin for write or label Indicates information to be included on medication label

Directions for taking medication at home Name of medication EX: take 1 po qd

9.Refill Number of times medication can be refilled

10.Physician's signature Prescription cannot be filled without physician's signature

11.DEA number Must appear on prescription for a controlled drug

Parts of a Prescription

PDR: Physicians’ Desk Reference

A Physicians Desk Reference, or PDR, is used to identify the thousands of prescription drugs and the effect of the drugs by physicians across the world. PDRs' assist anyone who is interested in knowing what a certain medication is or does.

PDR: Physicians’ Desk Reference cont..

Section 1: Manufacturer’s index Section 2: brand and generic name index Section 3: product category index Section 4: Product identification guide (pictures of each drug) Section 5: Product information Section 6: diagnostic product information

Always follow seven "rights" of preparing and administering medication

Right drug Right dose Right time Right patient Right route Right technique Right documentation

Checking the Label

ALWAYS check the medication label 3 times before administering a medication:1. When removing drug from the cabinet2. Before preparing medication3. After preparing medication but before putting medication away

Abbreviations

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