INTRODUCTION TO PHARMACOLOGY 1
CHAPTER 1 History of Pharmacology 3
History of Pharmacology 4
Sources of Drugs 6
Categorizing Medications 8
The Roles of the Licensed Practical Nurse, Licensed Vocational Nurse,
and M
...
INTRODUCTION TO PHARMACOLOGY 1
CHAPTER 1 History of Pharmacology 3
History of Pharmacology 4
Sources of Drugs 6
Categorizing Medications 8
The Roles of the Licensed Practical Nurse, Licensed Vocational Nurse,
and Medical Assistant in the Administration of Medications 10
CHAPTER 2 Basics of Pharmacology 15
What is Pharmacology? 16
The Drug Cycle 16
Issues Affecting the Drug Cycle 19
The Importance of Side Effects 20
Drug Resources for Information 22
CHAPTER 3 Patient Safety in Medication Administration 31
Patient Rights for Safety 32
The Right Route and Technique 34
Medication Names and Abbreviations 35
Factors Affecting Medication Administration 37
Protecting the Patient: Ethical and Safety Considerations 40
Protecting the Health-Care Worker 42
CHAPTER 4 Regulations 51
History of Drug Regulations 52
The FDA and Drug Development 53
Drug Control 60
Substance Abuse 64
CHAPTER 5 Prescriptions and Labels 73
Medication Orders 74
Parts of a Prescription 76
Drug Labels 79
UNIT 2 CALCULATIONS 87
CHAPTER 6 Review of Mathematics 89
Working with Fractions 90
Decimals 98
Ratios and Proportions 104
Solving for an Unknown 108
Contents
xii Contents
CHAPTER 7 Measurement Systems 117
Measurement Systems 117
CHAPTER 8 Dosage Calculations 131
Methods for Calculating Drug Dosages 132
Special Circumstances 140
Reconstituting Powders 143
Parenteral Calculations 143
Calculating Fluid Balance 148
UNIT 3 ADMINISTRATION OF MEDICATIONS 155
CHAPTER 9 Enteral Medications and Administration 157
Enteral Medications 158
CHAPTER 10 Parenteral Medications and Administration 171
Parenteral Medications 172
Topical Medications and Administration 172
Ophthalmic Medications and Administration 175
Otic Medications and Administration 176
Vaginal Medications and Administration 176
Nasal Route of Medication Administration 178
Inhaled Medications and Administration 180
Injectable Medications 183
UNIT 4 CLASSIFICATIONS OF DRUGS 213
CHAPTER 11 Integumentary System Medications 215
Integumentary System: Vulnerable Barrier 216
Skin Infections and Medications 216
Inflammatory Conditions and Medications 219
Skin Cancer and Medications 221
CHAPTER 12 Musculoskeletal System Medications 229
The Musculoskeletal System 230
Medications Used to Treat Muscular Disorders 231
Medications Used to Treat Abnormal Calcium Levels 232
Medications for Bone and Joint Inflammation 233
Medications to Treat Phantom Limb Pain 235
CHAPTER 13 Nervous System Medications 243
The Nervous System 244
The Autonomic Nervous System and Medications 245
Medications to Control Pain and Fever 246
Medications to Treat Anxiety, Insomnia, Sedation, and Seizures 248
Medications to Treat Behavioral, Emotional, and Mood Disorders 250
Medications to Treat Degenerative Disorders 252
Contents xiii
Local and General Anesthetic Medications 254
Alcohol 255
CHAPTER 14 Eye and Ear Medications 267
The Eye 268
Eye Medications 268
The Ear 271
Ear Medications 272
Medications and Ototoxicity 273
CHAPTER 15 Endocrine System Medications 281
The Endocrine System 282
Endocrine System Medications 286
Medications That Treat Adrenal Disorders 291
CHAPTER 16 Cardiovascular System Medications 299
The Cardiovascular System 300
Myocardial Infarction, Stroke, and Clotting 302
Cardiovascular Medications 302
Medications for Lipid Disorders 311
CHAPTER 17 Immunological System Medications 323
The Immune Response 324
Medications That Affect the Immune System 325
CHAPTER 18 Pulmonary System Medications 353
The Pulmonary System 353
Pulmonary Medications 355
CHAPTER 19 Gastrointestinal System Medications 367
Gastrointestinal System 368
Gastrointestinal Medications 369
CHAPTER 20 Reproductive and Urinary System Medications 389
Hormones of the Reproductive System 390
Medications for Disorders Related to Female Hormones 390
Labor Medications 394
Infertility Medications 395
Medications for Other Female Reproductive Disorders 395
Medications for Male Reproductive Disorders 396
The Urinary System 396
CHAPTER 21 Vitamins, Minerals, Herbs, and Complementary and Alternative
Medicine 409
Vitamins 410
Minerals, Lipids, and Amino Acids 413
Herbal Medicines 416
Complementary and Alternative Medicine 417
xiv Contents
GLOSSARY 425
APPENDIX A Drug Classifications 443
APPENDIX B Drug Classification Index by Generic Name 447
APPENDIX C Controlled Substances Schedules 463
APPENDIX D Routine Pediatric and Adult Immunizations 465
APPENDIX E Administering Medications to Children 475
APPENDIX F Pediatric Dosage Calculations 477
APPENDIX G Examples of Herbs, Vitamins, Minerals, Amino Acids, and Lipids Used
as Remedies 479
APPENDIX H Basic Math Concepts 489
APPENDIX I Answers to Check Ups 491
INDEX 503
1 Introduction to
Pharmacology
1
CHAPTER 1
History of Pharmacology 3
CHAPTER 2
Basics of Pharmacology 15
CHAPTER 3
Patient Safety in Medication Administration 31
CHAPTER 4
Regulations 51
CHAPTER 5
Prescriptions and Labels 73
3
1 CHAPTER
History of Pharmacology
Medications, their origins, and their uses are older than any written
records that we have. Many ancient cultures have contributed to the
knowledge base and evolution of pharmacology, including Greek,
Chinese, Egyptian, Persian, and Arabic. The healers were called by
many names, but all shared an extensive knowledge of plants, minerals,
and animal products. Pharmacology has evolved significantly from
the days when these resources were used to cure the ill without understanding why they worked or did not work. Some ancient remedies are
still valuable medicines today, whereas others have been discarded
as worthless or dangerous. With the advent of scientific inquiry and
technology, researchers around the world have created new and better
medications. The ability to isolate pure substances and formulate
drugs in a laboratory enables pharmaceutical companies to
mass-produce needed medicines in a timely manner.
In this chapter, you will learn about the history of pharmacology
and sources used for developing drugs; the acceptance of alternative
medicine, and its place in medicine; and the six main categories of
drugs and their uses.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of this chapter, you should be able to:
1.1 Define all key terms.
1.2 List three societies critical to the development and evolution of pharmacology.
1.3 List four sources of drugs.
1.4 List 10 drugs, and record their sources.
4 UNIT 1 Introduction to Pharmacology
KEY TERMS
Al-Hawi
Alternative medicine
Antineoplastic
Bovine
Curative
Destructive
Diagnostic
Drug/droog
Ebers Papyrus
Palliative
Pharmacodynamics
Pharmacology
Pharmakon
Porcine
Prophylactic
Replacement drugs
Synthetic drugs
■ HISTORY OF PHARMACOLOGY
The history of pharmacology helps us to understand that even though there have been huge
advances in medications, scientists are coming to understand that by disregarding ancient practices,
they have been missing a treasure trove of useful medications. Many practitioners are utilizing
alternative medicine to maximize their patients’ health, and scientists are looking to older remedies
to see if and why they work and how to reproduce them in the modern world. We as practitioners
also need to understand that many patients are using many different forms of self-medication, from
home remedies to substances they learned about on an infomercial that promise to cure all types of
problems; if these substances are not understood, they may interfere or counteract a prescribed
pharmaceutical medication. In other words, we need a complete picture of every substance patients
are taking in order to assist in their care.
The term pharmacology is of Greek origin from two words: pharmakon, meaning “medicine,” and
ology, meaning “the study of.” Pharmakon also meant poison and remedy, poison because some of the
early medicines were toxic enough to kill, and remedy because, at times, early medicines cured the
illness. The word drug has a Dutch origin in which droog meant “dry” as in the use of dry herbs.
Most ancient societies had little knowledge about the human body and how it worked, so treating
illness was often based on trial and error. Early records document that treatments consisted of plants,
minerals, and animal products because no other sources were available. “Healers” were known as wise
men, shamans, witch doctors, medicine men and women, and so on (Fig. 1-1), depending on the culture,
and were chosen based on their knowledge of which plants or other substance to use, how to prepare
it, and how much to give the patient.
Pharmacology in Ancient Times and Cultures
Early documentation of medicine and various remedies is evident in several cultures. For example,
“The Yellow Emperors’ Inner Classic,” a Chinese document, was a very early discussion of yin-yang
and acupuncture. The first Chinese manual on pharmacology was written in the first century A.D. and
included 365 medicines, 252 of which were herbs. In Egypt, a medical document called the Ebers
Papyrus was written circa 1550 B.C. and lists about 700 “recipes” for a host of illnesses, from crocodile
bites to psychiatric illnesses. Another document, the Al-Hawi, is a large, 20-volume medical book written by the physician Al-Razi in ancient Persia (Iran). It was translated into Latin in the 13th century
and greatly influenced medicine in medieval Europe.
The contributions from these cultures led to the advancement of pharmacology. When treatments
for many conditions were discovered, the findings were recorded on papyrus or paper to pass on to
future generations. Documenting this early information was extremely important, as belief systems
changed over time. Without these earlier writings, traditional oral knowledge might have been lost or
suppressed and much progress could not have been made.
During the 17th and 18th centuries, there was a real lack of knowledge in the use of medications
and their dangers. A prime example of this is mercury, which was used for a variety of ailments from
skin conditions to syphilis. Specifically, in the late 1700s a prominent physician, Dr. Benjamin Rush
used a mercury compound in high doses to treat yellow fever patients. Of course, it has since been
discovered that mercury is so harmful to humans that we no longer use mercury blood pressure cuffs
or thermometers for fear of exposure.
CHAPTER 1 History of Pharmacology 5
Pharmacological Advances Through the 19th and 20th Centuries
Over time, an increasingly scientific approach to the discovery and understanding of drugs was taken.
During the 1800s, chemists were able to identify and then isolate the active ingredients (those pure
chemicals in the plants that had the actual therapeutic properties). They were also able to determine
how the drug acted on the body. This marked the beginning of modern pharmacology. Up until the
early 1900s, preparing medicine was very labor-intensive; the pharmacist had to distill and prepare each
medicine when it was ordered (Fig. 1-2). Not until World War II (1939 to 1945) did the mass-production
of medicine begin (Fig. 1-3). More U.S. soldiers died in World War I from infection and accidents than
from actual combat injuries; however, the mass-production of penicillin minimized the number of
deaths from infection during World War II (Table 1-1). For instance, the death rate from pneumonia
FIGURE 1-2: Pharmacist preparing a prescription, 1939. (From the
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division, Washington, D.C.)
FIGURE 1-1: Eskimo medicine man. (From the Library of
Congress Prints and Photographs Division, Washington, D.C.)
6 UNIT 1 Introduction to Pharmacology
in the U.S. Army was 18% during World War I, decreasing to 1% during World War II. Death from
combat injuries complicated by infections also decreased.
With the discoveries of new drugs like penicillin that could save millions of lives, the belief grew that
new drugs must be better than old standard herbs and treatments, especially if created or refined in a scientific manner. Pharmacology therefore advanced rapidly in the second half of the 20th century as many
new drugs were either discovered or developed. In an effort to discover possible new drugs, researchers
studied plants, marine animals, and micro-organisms in soil, water, and air. Partially or totally synthesized
medications were produced by combining two or more compounds or elements. Partially synthesized
medications were made by adding a pure chemical to a natural substance. Totally synthesized medications
were created by combing two or more pure chemicals to produce a new substance that could be used as
a medication. One major breakthrough was the discovery of ways to create large amounts of viable drugs
from a small amount of natural resources using genetic engineering. For example, human insulin can be
mass-produced by adding the human insulin gene to a nonpathogenic strain of Escherichia coli.
Pharmacology in the 21st Century
In the 21st century science is booming. One of the most promising advances in the field of medications
is that of pharmacogenetics, which is the “study of individual candidate genes as powerful tools to
explain interindividual variability in drug response.” In other words, the patient’s genetic material is
analyzed, and then in the case of cancer, the tumor’s genetics are analyzed to figure out the best drug
and what dosage will work best to combat the disease. Currently there are certain medications and
doses used to treat conditions for every adult patient with that condition. Through these advances in
pharmacogenetics, the ability to individualize drugs and their dosage is happening in the treatment of
HIV and rheumatoid arthritis. In addition, the hope is that in the future we can specifically tailor drugs
and dosages for opioids and antihypertensives among other medications.
■ SOURCES OF DRUGS
Although most drugs are now manufactured in laboratories, many agents are still derived from natural
substances such as plants, animals, minerals, and toxins. Some are utilized by extracting active ingredients from animals or plants and using these ingredients to manufacture a medication. Other times
FIGURE 1-3: Mass-production of medication, 1944.
(From the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division,
Washington, D.C.)
TABLE 1.1 U.S. Casualties in Major Wars
War Number Serving Battle Deaths Disease and Accidents
Civil War 2,213,363 140,414 224,097
Spanish-American War 306,760 385 2,061
World War I 4,743,826 53,513 63,195
World War II 16,353,659 292,131 115,185
Source: U.S. Department of Justice
CHAPTER 1 History of Pharmacology 7
the original or natural source serves as a template for creating a synthetic equivalent, which is especially
useful if the natural source is a rare plant. Scientists are constantly researching natural sources (plants,
animals, marine animals, and microbes) in the hope of finding new sources of medications. Some drugs
are made by combining chemicals with natural products, such as hydrocodone, which combines natural
opium in the form of codeine combined with acetaminophen (a man-made medication), whereas other
drugs are synthesized in a laboratory. Barbiturates are an example of synthetic drugs because they are
chemically derived from barbituric acid (itself an artificial compound of urea and malonic acid).
Plants
Today plants are rarely used as medications; instead the active component of the plant is extracted and
utilized in the manufacturing of the drug. Digoxin (Lanoxin), a drug used to treat heart failure, is made
from the foxglove plant and has been used for healing since the 1500s. Most estrogen hormone replacements come from yams. Procaine (Novocain), used as an anesthetic, is derived from the coca plant.
Rose hips are a rich source of vitamin C and are sold as an ingredient in vitamin C supplements. Aspirin
(acetylsalicylic acid) is a compound based on salicin, which is found in the bark of a white willow tree,
and is used to relieve pain and to treat inflammation.
Unfortunately, as less land becomes available for growing plants, fewer plants will exist for making
medications. For example, as the rain forest diminishes, the rare plants that are located only in this
environment may become extinct. In this instance, these rare plants are used as a template to manufacture a medication instead of using the plants and depleting them.
CRITICAL THINKING
If people rely on plants for medication, what effect does the increasing human
population have on the potential supply of medications?
❋?
Animals
Domesticated animals are also a source of drugs. To ensure the purity of the drugs, donor animals are
generally well cared for. Some examples include sheep, which provide lanolin, a topical skin medication
that comes from the wool. Cows (bovine) and pigs (porcine) are good sources of hormone replacements.
If a patient’s body cannot manufacture a hormone, animal hormones can serve as a substitute. Horses
provide humans with the replacement hormone conjugated estrogen (Premarin), which comes from a
pregnant mare’s urine. In addition, insulin is collected from the pancreases of cows or pigs. We obtain
IGG (Immunoglobulin G) by injecting an antigen into animals (most commonly cows) and collecting
the antibody that is formed. The drug heparin is extracted from porcine intestinal mucosa and bovine
lungs.
CRITICAL THINKING
Cows and pigs are good sources of hormones. Do you think animals may be a
better hormone source than humans? Why or why not?
❋?
Minerals
When foods grown from rich soil are unavailable, calcium, iron, zinc, magnesium, copper, and selenium
are some of the minerals that are offered as necessary supplements.
For patients taking certain medications, mineral replacement is critical. Diuretic drugs such
as furosemide (Lasix) cause the body to lose excess water through the kidneys, and potassium, a vital
mineral, is also excreted with the water. Potassium is needed for the heart to function normally, so
supplemental potassium chloride is frequently prescribed in addition to the medication. Potassium is
also contained in sweet potatoes, bananas, and oranges.
Minerals are also used to treat certain conditions. For example, gold is used in the treatment of
arthritis, iodine is used to treat goiter, and magnesium sulfate is used for constipation and eclampsia.
8 UNIT 1 Introduction to Pharmacology
Toxins
Toxins, by definition, are poisons. Despite this fact, chemical and biological toxins are commonly used
in medicine. The key is in the dosage. For instance, certain radioactive chemicals are used to diagnose
and treat illnesses. Radioactive iodine, for example, in small doses can help pinpoint problems in a
patient’s thyroid, a small gland in the neck. In higher doses, radioactive iodine is used to shrink thyroid
tumors.
Biological toxins can also be used in medicine. Botulinum toxin (Botox), which comes from a
bacterium called Clostridium botulinum, is used in patients with torticollis (a condition in which neck
muscles contract causing the head to turn to one side), strabismus (eye misalignment), and migraines.
It is used in tiny doses.
CRITICAL THINKING
What are some of the dangers of using toxins as medicine?
❋?
CRITICAL THINKING
What are some of the ethical issues of genetically engineered drugs?
❋?
Synthetic Medications
Synthetic drugs can be created by chemical processes, genetic engineering, or by altering animal
cells. Often, drugs that are obtained from another source can be synthesized in the laboratory, thus
preserving natural resources. For example, paclitaxel (Taxol), a drug for patients with cancer, was
first made from the bark of the Pacific yew tree. Then a template or blueprint was developed to
create a synthetic form of this drug, thus preserving the yew tree. Insulin can be obtained from pigs
or cows, but a synthetic source is most commonly used. Human insulin is produced by using
recombinant technology to add the insulin gene into a nonpathogenic strain of E. coli. This change
occurred because of concern over the possible transmission of disease from animals to humans. In
addition, there is a risk for immune reactions because of impurities found in the animal products.
One additional advantage is that synthetic medications are usually more inexpensive because they
are mass-produced.
Because scientists have been able to map the human genome, it is becoming possible to choose
medications that are appropriate for individual patients, not patients as a whole. One area of uniqueness
is the variation in the amount of drug-metabolizing enzymes each patient has and the effectiveness of
these enzymes. The scientist can manipulate the DNA material of the medication source by changing it
or combining it with DNA from another organism to target the patient’s levels of the drug-metabolizing
enzyme. Therefore, prescribers are able to choose drugs that work better for one population than
for another. Research is also being conducted on the use of existing drugs in targeted populations. For
example, BiDil is a combination of two generic drugs—hydralazine hydrochloride and isosorbide
dinitrate—and is used to treat African American patients with heart failure.
■ CATEGORIZING MEDICATIONS
The term pharmacodynamics refers to the effect of a drug on the body, or more scientifically, the
negative and positive biochemical or physiological changes that a drug creates. Drugs fall into six
categories of desired effects (Table 1-2).
■ Curative. Some drugs restore normal physiological function, as in diuretics, which help the
body rid itself of excess fluid.
■ Prophylactic. These drugs prevent diseases or disorders, as in antibiotics given before surgery
to prevent infection.
CHAPTER 1 History of Pharmacology 9
■ Diagnostic. Some drugs help diagnose a disease, such as barium that patients swallow to help
highlight digestive problems on a radiograph.
■ Palliative. Other drugs, such as pain relievers, do not cure disease, but they make patients
more comfortable.
■ Replacement. These drugs “replace” missing substances. Levothyroxine sodium (Synthroid),
for example, is a drug that replaces a missing thyroid hormone.
■ Destructive. Some medications destroy tumors and microbes. Antineoplastic (anticancer)
drugs are an example of destructive, toxic drugs.
Medications are used for various reasons during a patient’s life span. As a health-care provider, you
must know how the different categories of drugs may affect a patient. Understanding this information
will help you provide effective counseling, patient care, and safe administration of drugs depending on
your role and scope of practice.
TABLE 1.2 Drug Categories
Category
Curative
Prophylactic
Diagnostic
Palliative
Replacement
Destructive
Main Action
Cures or treats a problem
Prevents a problem
Helps diagnos
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