Medication: Any chemical preparation used in medical treatment to cure illness or relieve symptoms.
➢ Medications work by controlling changes in biochemical or physiological processes in the body by altering body fluids, cell membranes or interacting with receptor sites
Therapeutic Evaluation: Involves making a judgement of the medications safety and effectiveness. Monitor via blood screening
Pharmacology: Study of the action of medications in living organisms
Pharmacotherapy: The use of medications to treat disease
Pharmacodynamics: What the medication does to the body
Pharmacokinetics: What the body does to the medication. There are 4 major actions:
➢ Absorption
➢ Distribution
➢ Metabolism
➢ Excretion
Factors affecting absorption:
➢ Form of medication (liquid/solid/gas)
➢ Food – Can delay absorption
➢ Acidity of the stomach – May stop or limit
For absorption to occur the correct form of medication must be given by he intended route.
Side effects: Are the known and sometimes expected reactions to a medication
➢ If side effects become worse the dose may have to be reduced, ceased or intervals between doses increased
Adverse Reaction: Unpredictable and not related to usual effects of medication
➢ Can be caused by an allergy or genetic disorder
➢ Responses include rashes, swelling, jaundice
Toxicology: Study of the nature, properties, identification, effect and treatment of poisons, including adverse medication reactions
Organ responsible for drug elimination: Kidneys
Organ used for metabolism: Liver
Polypharmacy: A client who is on 5 or more medications
Medications Interaction: Medications interact with other drugs
Factors that create change when it comes to administration of drugs:
➢ New technologies
➢ Popularity of medicines
➢ Availability
➢ New uses
➢ Improves understanding of diseases
Quality use of medicines (QUM)
Goal of pyramid relies on 4 faces
4 faces of pyramid:
➢ Health Professionals (nurses, pharmacists, doctors)
➢ Regulatory (government, policy, developers)
➢ Consumers
➢ Industry (medication companies
3 levels of pyramid:
➢ Level 1 Awareness
➢ Level 2 Knowledge and skills
➢ Level 3 Action and evaluation
Acts of Parliament:
➢ Poisons Act 1964
➢ Controlled Substances Act 1984
➢ Health Practitioner Regulation National Law Act (2009)
Preparing Medications
Medications are produced in three forms:
➢ Solids
➢ Liquids
➢ Gases
Solids: Can be administered via oral, topical, rectal or vaginal routes
➢ Tablets
➢ Capsules
➢ Lozenge
➢ Ointments
➢ Cream
➢ Paste
➢ Powder
➢ Suppositories
➢ Pessaries
Liquid: Three types, mixtures, suspensions and emulsions
➢ Mixtures
➢ Syrups
➢ Elixirs
➢ Drops
➢ Tinctures
➢ Liniments
➢ Paint
➢ Suspensions
➢ Emulsions
Gaseous: Used in specific circumstances, and can relate to any of the following
➢ Oxygen
➢ Anaesthesia – local or general
Medication orders to be valid:
➢ Clients full name
➢ Date of medication order
➢ Name of medication (generic)
➢ Form of medication
➢ Dosage or strength required
➢ Route
➢ Frequency
➢ Duration
➢ Signature of prescriber
➢ Special considerations (before or after food)
6 Rights:
➢ Right Dose
➢ Right Patient
➢ Right Documentation
➢ Right Medication
➢ Right Time
➢ Right Route
Additional Rights:
➢ Right effect
➢ Never administer a medication you do not know
➢ Clients rights/education
9 Schedules
Schedule 1: Blank
Schedule 2: Pharmacy Medicines
Schedule 3: Pharmacist Only Medicines
Schedule 4: Prescription Only Medicines
Schedule 5: Caution
Schedule 6: Caution or Poison
Schedule 7: Dangerous
Schedule 8: Controlled Drug
Schedule 9: Prohibited Substances
Schedules 4 and 8 are most important to nurses
Mediation Groups
Antacid: Neutralise Stomach Acidity
➢ Magnesium Hydroxide (Mylanta)
➢ Calcium Carbonate (Cal Sup)
Analgesic: Pain relief
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