Introduction to Pharmacology
Sources of Drugs
INTRODUCTION TO DRUGS
● Drugs chemicals that are
introduced into the body
to cause some sort of
change
NURSES’ RESPONSIBILITY
● Administering Drug
● Assessing for adverse drug effects
● Intervening to make the drug regimen more
tolerable
● Providing patient teaching about drugs and
the drug regimen
● Monitoring and prevention of medication
errors.
NURSING PROCESS
1. Assessment collecting subjective and
objective data.
2. Diagnosis analyzing subjective and
objective data to make a
professional judgment.
3. Planning determining outcome
criteria and developing
plans.
4. Implementation carrying out the plan
5. Evaluation assessing whether
outcome criteria have been
met and revising the plan
as necessary.
Pharmacology - the study of the
biological effects of
chemicals
-
Plants - leaves, roots, bulb, stem, seeds, buds
and isolation
Riccinus communis - seed, oil, castor oil
Digitalis Purpurea (foxglove plant)
- Leaves, Dry leaves, Digitals leaf.
- Product: Digoxin (commonly used in heart
failure)
Papaver somniferum (poppy plant)
- Unripe capsule, Juice, Opium (paregoric),
Morphine (Roxanol). Codeine, Papaverine
(Pavabid)
- Poppy plant for sedation (minor surgeries)
- Papaver somniferum - commonly known as
the opium poppy or breadseed poppy
- Opium
- highly addictive non-synthetic narcotic that
is extracted from poppy plant papaver
somniferum.
- key source for many narcotics, including
morphine, codeine, and heroin.
Animal Products - body fluids or glands of animals,
examples: insulin, enzymes, pepsin, and vaccines.
● Used to replace human chemicals that are
not produced because of genetic problems.
Inorganic Compounds- occur in nature or are
combined with other ingredients, example: iron,
iodine
Synthetic sources - laboratory made drugs,
ranitidine
Drugs also maybe processed using a synthetic
version of the active chemicals found in the plant
Example: dronabinol (Marinol) - contains the
active ingredient delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol found
in marijuana.
● For N/V in Ca patients but does not have the
adverse effects that occur when the leaf is
smoked.
● Controlled substance with high abuse
potential
Jhayne C. Ducay BSN 2-B
Naga College Foundation
 Introduction to Pharmacology
INORGANIC COMPOUNDS
FOCUS ON ELEMENTS USED FOR THEIR
THERAPEUTIC EFFECTS Drug Evaluation

ELEMENT THERAPEUTIC USE Preclinical trials - chemicals that may have

therapeutic value are test
Aluminum - Antacid to decrease Some chemicals are on laboratory animals:
gastric activity discarded at the end of
- Management of preclinical trials for the 1. To determine whether
hyperphosphatemia following reasons: they have the presumed
- Prevention of the - It lacks therapeutic effects in living tissue.
formation of activity when used 2. To evaluate any adverse
phosphate urinary with living effects
stones. organism
- Too toxic to living
animals to be
Fluoride - Prevention of dental worth the risk of
cavities developing into
- Prevention of drugs
osteoporosis - Highly teratogenic
(adverse effects to
Gold - Treatment of rheumatoid fetus)
arthritis - Safety margins are
so small that the
Iron - Treatment of iron chemical would
deficiency anemia. not be useful in the
clinical setting.
Synthetic Sources Phase 1 studies human healthy young men
volunteer to test drugs.
● Genetic engineering is used to alter bacteria - chemicals are dropped - Some chemicals
from the process for the are therapeutic in
to produce chemicals that are therapeutic following: other animals but
and effective. 1. Lack therapeutic have no effects in
effect in humans human
2. Cause - Scrutinize the drugs
● Changes in chemical structure can make unacceptable being tested, look
drugs more potent, more stable, and less adverse effects for adverse effects
toxic. 3. Highly teratogenic and toxicity.
4. Too toxic
5. Despite of these 6. Antihypertensive
DRUG EVALUATION some chemicals minoxidil
Preclinical trials - chemicals tested on move to the next (Loniten) -
laboratory animals stage effectively treat
Phase 1 studies - chemicals tested on malignant HPN but
human volunteers it caused unusual
Phase 2 studies - drug tried on informed hair growth on the
patients palms and other
Phase 3 studies - Drug used in vast clinical market body areas.
Phase 4 studies - continual evaluation of the drug

Jhayne C. Ducay BSN 2-B

Naga College Foundation
 Introduction to Pharmacology
- Prescribers
Phase 2 studies allow clinical observe
investigators to try patients very
removed from the drug in patients closely,
further investigation who have the monitoring
for the following disease that the them for any
reasons: drug is meant to adverse
1. Less effective treat. effects
than - When drug is
anticipated Performed at various used widely,
2. Too toxic hospitals, clinics and totally
when used doctors office, unexpected
w/patients monitored by responses
3. Produces representatives of may occur
unacceptable pharmaceutical and if it
adverse companies. produces
effects unacceptable
4. Low adverse
benefit-to-risk effects or
ratio, meaning unforeseen
that the reactions -
therapeutic removed for
benefit it further study.
provides does
not outweigh Phase 4 studies - continual
the risk of evaluation of
potential the drug
adverse Chemical names - Approved
effects that it - names that drug is given
causes reflect the brand name
chemical (trade name)
Phase 3 studies Involve use of drugs structure of a - Generic
in vast clinical drug name of the
market drug is the
- Prescibers are original
informed of all designation
the known that the drug
reactions to was given
the drug and when the drug
precautions company
required for its applied for
safe use. approval.

Jhayne C. Ducay BSN 2-B

Naga College Foundation
 Introduction to Pharmacology

DRUG NAMES CONCERNS WITH OTC MEDICATIONS

1. OTC drugs can mask the signs and symptoms
1. Chemical Name (+/-)_2-(p-isobutylphen of underlying disease
yl) propionic acid 2. Taking OTC drugs with prescription medication
2. Generic Name ibuprofen can result in drug interaction
3. Taking prescription medication incorrectly with
3. Trade Name Motrin, Advil OTC drugs could result in serious overdose

Generic Drugs - chemicals that are Sources of Drugs

produced by the companies that just 1. Package insert
manufacture drugs. 2. Reference books
- They do not have research, advertising 3. Journals
or sometimes the quality control 4. Internet
departments that pharmaceutical
companies do have, they produce these
Drugs cheaply.

Orphan drugs - drugs that have been

discovered but are not financially viable
and therefore have not been “adopted”by
any drug company.
- Useful for treating rare disease
- Rate neurological disease that
affects only small number of people

TYPES OF DRUGS
1. Over-the-counter drugs
2. Prescription Drugs
- Drugs considered very safe and useful to
without a prescription.
- Drugs may previously have been
prescription medications (eg, loratadine)

Jhayne C. Ducay BSN 2-B

Naga College Foundation