Pharmacology Lecture Notes

Instructor Introduction

• Dr. Windsor
• Focus: Basics of pharmacology (Chapter 1)

Objectives

• Understand basic pharmacology terms & abbreviations
• Identify drug sources with examples
• Classify drugs used in surgery
• Explore medication orders, drug distribution systems, drug forms, and routes of administration
• Understand pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics

Importance of Pharmacology

• Prevent medication errors and related deaths (7,000 deaths annually)
• Errors prevalent in surgical procedures
• Surgical techs play a key role in reducing medication errors
• Follow six general guidelines by the Association of Surgical Technology:
  • Six rights of medication
  • Sterile technique
  • Supervision and orders of the surgeon
  • Development and adherence to policies
  • Review policies regularly
  • Continue education

Basic Terms in Pharmacology

• Pharmacology Definition: Study of interactions between chemicals and biological systems
• Adverse Effect: Undesired or harmful side effect (e.g., bleeding from heparin)
• Bolus: Rapid drug dose via IV
• Contraindication: Reasons against drug administration (allergy, pregnancy, etc.)
• Absorption: Process of drug entering the bloodstream

Drug Sources

• Natural Sources:
  • Plants (e.g., atropine, morphine, digitalis)
  • Minerals (e.g., Silvadene cream, antacids)
  • Animals (e.g., insulin from pigs, thyroglobulin from pigs)
• Chemical Sources:
  • Synthetic drugs (e.g., Demerol)
  • Semi-synthetic drugs (e.g., aspirin, amoxicillin)
• Biotechnology:
  • Genetic engineering and recombinant DNA
  • Produces proteins (e.g., Humulin, hepatitis B vaccine)

Drug Classifications

• Therapeutic Action: What the drug does for the patient (e.g., analgesics relieve pain)
• Physiological Action: What the drug does in the body (e.g., histamine blockers)
• Body System: Targeted organ or system (e.g., dermatologic agents for skin)
• Chemical Type: Based on chemical compounds (e.g., barbiturates)

Medication Orders

• Types of medication orders:
  • Standing orders (e.g., preference cards)
  • Verbal orders
  • Stat orders
  • PRN orders
• Prescription Components: Date, patient name, drug name, dosage, administration route, prescriber's signature

Drug Distribution Systems

• Hospital pharmacy, satellite pharmacy, medicine cabinets or carts
• Automated dispensing systems (e.g., Pyxis)

Drug Forms

• Solids: Pills, capsules
• Semi-solids: Creams, ointments, gels
• Liquids: Solutions, suspensions, emulsions
• Gases: (e.g., nitrous oxide)

Routes of Drug Administration

• Enteral: Oral, rectal
• Parenteral: Topical, subcutaneous, intramuscular, intravenous
• Topical: Local or systemic effects

Pharmacokinetics

• Absorption: Drug enters the body
• Distribution: Drug reaches target site
• Biotransformation/Metabolism: Drug is broken down, mainly in the liver
• Excretion: Drug leaves the body, mainly via kidneys

Pharmacodynamics

• Agonist: Drug that activates receptors
• Antagonist: Drug that inhibits receptors
• Synergists: Drugs that enhance each other's effects
• Indication & Contraindication: Reasons for and against drug use
• Onset & Duration: Time for effectiveness and how long it lasts

Closing

• Encouragement to revisit lecture and use flashcards
• Next lecture will cover medication development, regulation, and resources