Pharmacokinetics
Sierra Anderson
San Joaquin Valley College Fresno Campus Abstract
Pharmacokinetics provides a basis to assess the course of drugs and their effects on the body (Dhillon & Kostrzewski, 2006). The processes of pharmacokinetics can be broken down into the absorption, distribution, biotransformation, and excretion in, through, and out of the body. These are major concepts that guide medication use and dosage selection (Association of Surgical Technologists, 2017).
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Pharmacokinetics of a drug depends on patient-related factors as well as on the drug’s chemical properties, some patient related factors (e.g., renal function, genetic makeup, sex, age, obesity, hepatic failure, dehydration) can be used to predict the pharmacokinetic parameters in populations (Le, 2016). In an individual with healthy hepatic function, biotransformation of a drug would occur more quickly than that of a person with liver failure. Similarly, liver function decreases with age so the elderly patient would need different dosing of a medication than a healthy young adult. Because of individual differences, drug administration must be based on each patient needs (Le, 2016).
Conclusion. Pharmacokinetics, sometimes described by what the body does to a drug, refers to the movement of a drug into, through, and out of the body (Le, 2016). This is described through the absorption, distribution, biotransformation, and excretion of a drug. A thorough understanding of the pharmacokinetics of a medication is essential to all involved with the creation and administration of drug. By understanding pharmacokinetics, patients will be given the most optimal dosage of medications, leading to the best patient
The analysis is therefore one of the most effective methods of ensuring that each drug being prescribed to patients is safe. It also ensures that all drug components are understood in terms of their structure and chemical behavior. This understanding is very important in the manufacture of drugs and other pharmaceutical products.
17). Dowieko (2015) points out that “methods of administration and routes of administration are important factors that affect the user experience” (p.17). There are thirteen different ways that a compound can be introduced to the body (Kamienski and Keogy (2006), Doweiko, 2015, p. 17). Compounds administered by the “enteral method enter the body by the gastrointestinal tract ”(Brody, 1994, Dowieko ,2015, p. 17). “Compounds administered by the parenteral method of drug administration involves the injection of a compound directly into the body” (Dowieko, 2015,
Pharmacokinetic relates to how the body absorbs, distributes, and eliminates medications. Also referred to as what the body does to the drug. Some of the changes are decreased blood flow, decreased albumin, lean body mass, and total body water, liver blood flow and mass, enzymatic activity, glomerular filtration, and secretion. Also, aging increases gastric PH, body fat, and delays gastric emptying (Arcangelo & Peterson, 2013, pp. 66-67). Changes in the peripheral nervous system (PNS) and central nervous system (CNS) include peripheral nerve deterioration, mild motor and discriminatory sensory changes in the feet, changes in the senses, and memory deterioration. An increase in the sympathetic nervous systems (SNS) causes organ-specific changes that target the gastrointestinal system and skeletal muscles affecting responses to stress and pain (Halaszynski, T., 2013). According to Hilmer, McLachlan, & LeCouteur (2007), there is an increase in adverse drug reactions, which are more severe in the
A blockbuster drug is the one which generates more than $1 billion of revenue for the pharmaceutical company that sells it each year."In the pharmaceutical industry, a blockbuster drug is termed as the one that achieves acceptance by prescribing physicians as a therapeutic standard for, most commonly, a highly prevalent chronic (rather than acute) condition. 'Blockbuster’ drugs play a key role in the pharmaceutical industry. However, discovery and development alone are not enough to create a blockbuster; the firms must be able to market the drug aggressively to achieve the potential gains from their innovation. A report from URCH Publishing estimated that one third of the pharma market is accounted for by blockbuster drugs by value. Between 2000 and 2005 drugs with more than $1billion in sales accounted for 28 to 36% of global sales changes in the sales of these drugs can cause large changed in a firms profitability .There are arguments that while many firms are capable of discovering and developing new drugs, only a handful of firms are capable of successfully commercializing a breakthrough innovation. This commercialization capability is what creates a blockbuster: without this capability, even a major innovation would not reach blockbuster status For example: Cimetidine was the first drug to reach a $1 billion target thus making it a blockbuster drug.
Precision of a patient’s intravenous medication is essential; it must be safe from. contamination, toxicity, and side effects. Most people believe these medications are compounded or mixed by a trained and licensed individual. However, this is inaccurate because the pharmacy technician actually compounds a large percentage of a patient’s medications. Compounding involves a technician’s math skills, aseptic technique, and professional ethics.... ...
Psycopharmacology Tips by Dr. Bob. Robert Hsuing, M.D. May 1999. 7 Aug. 2000 <a href="http://www.uhs.bsd.uchicago.edu/~bhsuing/tips/tips.html">http://www.uhs.bsd.uchicago.edu/~bhsuing/tips/tips.html
I have been a register nurse for 15 years and feel comfortable with indications for many drugs, however I know that there are many other aspects of pharmacology that I have neglected throughout my nursing career. One of the expectations I have during my transition as an APRN is to become proficient in pharmacology. To achieve this expectation, I plan to master many of the pharmacology aspects that I have neglected since nursing school, such as pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. I realize that the indication for a drug and knowing common dosages is only a small portion of proscribing a medication, knowing how the drug functions and focusing on individual patient pros and cons is essential when prescribing a medication. Another goal I would like to gain from this course and my shift to prescribing medications, is knowledge of the appropriate resources I can use for pharmacology information in the clinical setting.
“Pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) can be seen as two sides of the same coin. PK and PD have a definite relationship, assessing how much drug gets to the site of action and then what that action is. Both activities are essential in the complete investigation of the interaction between the drug and body, and play significant roles in both drug development and their continual use in the clinical setting (Institute Of Clinical Research, Clinical Pharmacology Special Interest Group, Pharmacokinetics vs. Pharmacodynamics).”
As we age, the use of medication is often increased in an effort to treat illness and disease. In older adults this frequently results in the administration of multiple medications, both appropriately and inappropriately, at the same time. This is known as polypharmacy. While polypharmacy can exist with any age demographic, it is much more prevalent in older adults where the risk of multiple health conditions is greater. It is not uncommon, for example, for a patient to be treated with multiple therapeutic drug combinations in order to manage disease such as diabetes, heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (Kaufman, 2011, p. 49). Polypharmacy is associated as a major factor placing older adults at risk for an adverse drug event. As the number of medications increase, the need for monitoring becomes much more crucial. When there is a breakdown in proper monitoring, the older adult is significantly placed at a higher risk for negative health outcomes due to serious side effects, poor adherence, adverse drug reactions and adverse drug interactions.
Drug administration forms a major part of the clinical nurse’s role. Medicines are prescribed by the doctor and dispensed by the pharmacist but responsibility for correct administration rests with the registered nurse (O'Shea 1999). So as a student nurse this has become my duty and something that I need to practice and become competent in carrying it out. Each registered nurse is accountable for his/her practice. This practice includes preparing, checking and administering medications, updating knowledge of medications, monitoring the effectiveness of treatment, reporting adverse drug reactions and teaching patients about the drugs that they receive (NMC 2008). Accountability also goes for students, if at any point I felt I was not competent enough to dispensing a certain drug it would be my responsibility in speaking up and let the registered nurses know, so that I could shadow them and have the opportunity to learn help me in future practice and administration.
Firstly, nurses are expected to practice evidence-based health care hence a mastery of information about the essential and safe dose of drugs for a patient is very important for a nurse. Consequently, it could be the determinant between the life and the death of the patient. Pharmacology is a discipline which is mandatory for the nurse to excel in to be efficient in discharging his/her duties. Understanding which drug to use, the right dosage, the expected side effects which may occur and the contra-indications of the various drugs are key in the preservation of
Administering medication if handle in a wrongly matter may lead to an overdose, allergic reaction, and even cause an interactions between another drug. Math has help the accuracy of administering
Pharmacology is the science of drugs (from Greek pharmakos which means medicine or drug; and logos which means study). In actual use, it's meaning is limited to the study of how drugs and other substances affect our bodies. It has been defined as an experimental science which studies how substances that have entered our bodies affect our organism. The main tasks of pharmacologists are screening for desired activity, determining mode of action, and quantifying drug activity when chemical methods are not available.[1]
Firstly, the main role of a pharmacist is to dispense medicines to their patients according to the prescription given. Before this, they have to ensure that they delivering the right drug, the strength and dosage of the medicine are appropriate, as well as ensuring the medication is safety and can work effectively in the human body. (Swanson, 2005)