INTRODUCTION TO

PHARMACOLOGY
NCM 106

KIRK CYRUS NADA, BSN, RN

 At the end of the lesson, students will
be able to:

1. Understand the fundamental

principles and concepts of
pharmacology as applied to nursing.
LEARNING
2. Demonstrate familiarity with a
OBJECTIVES variety of definitions and terms
commonly used in pharmacology.

3. Differentiate between various drug

classifications.
 What is
Pharmacology?

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FUNDAMENTALS &
CONCEPTS
Pharmacology – derived from
two Greek words

“pharmakon” – medicine

“logos” - study

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FUNDAMENTALS &
CONCEPTS
Pharmacology
“is scientific study of the effects of drugs and
chemicals on living organisms where a drug
can be broadly defined as any chemical
substance, natural or synthetic, which affects a
biological system.” – University of Alberta

“An experimental science; the study of changes

brought about in living organisms by
chemically acting substances (with the
exception of foods), whether used for
therapeutic purposes or not.” (Paul Ehrlich,
1901)

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 FUNDAMENTALS &
CONCEPTS
DRUG – chemicals that are introduced into
the body to cause some sort of change

Greek – drogue

Dutch – droog, dry

Therapeutics Drugs – are called medicine;

drugs used in the prevention or treatment
of diseases.

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 3 Different Names of Drugs
1. Chemical Name – describes the drug’s chemical
compositions and molecular structure
2. Generic Name – most official drug compendiums to
list drugs
3. Trade Name – drug’s registered trademark, and
indicates its commercial use
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What is a generic name?
• Chemical name of a drug
• Refers to the chemical make-up rather than the advertised
brand
• A term referring to any drug marketed under its chemical
name without advertising

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What is a brand name?
• A drug sold by a drug company under a specific name or
trademark and that is protected by a patent.

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 DRUG SOURCES
1. Natural Sources – plants, animals,
and inorganic compound

2. Synthetic – chemical compounds

produced in the laboratory

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DRUG
CLASSIFICATION
• Drugs that have similar chemical
structures
• Which body system they affect
• Their therapeutic use or clinical
indications (used to treat same
disease)
• A related mode of action
• Prescription or Non-prescription

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 SAMPLES OF
CLASSIFICATIONS OF
DRUGS
• 5-Alpha-reductase inhibitor
• Angiotensin II receptor antagonist
• ACE inhibitor
• Alpha-adrenergic agonist
• Beta blocker
• Dopamine agonist
• Dopamine antagonist
• Incren mimec
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug –
cyclooxygenase drug
• Proton-pump inhibitor
• Renin inhibitor 16
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DRUG CLASSIFICATIONS

Antibiotics
– use to treat bacterial
infections; work by either killing
bacteria (bactericidal) or
inhibiting their growth
(bacteriostatic), following the
body’s immune system to
eliminate the bacteria more
effectively.
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Antidepressants
– use to treat various mental health
conditions, primarily depressions, and
certain anxiety disorders; work by
altering levels of certain
neurotransmitters in the brain, such
as serotonin, norepinephrine, and
dopamine, which are believed to play
a role in regulating mood.

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Antihypertensive
– use to lower high blood pressure, a
condition known as hypertension;
these are prescribed to manage and
control bp levels.

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Antacids
– OTC medications that are used to relieve
symptoms of acid indigestion, heartburn,
and gastroesophageal reflux disease
(GERD); work by neutralizing excess
stomach acid, which causes discomfort and
irritation in the esophagus and stomach.

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Anticoagulants
– “blood thinners”, used to prevent
blood clotting in the circulatory
system; used to treat and prevent
various medical conditions related to
abnormal blood clotting.

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Analgesics
– primarily designed to relieve pain; work by
reducing the perception of pain, either by
acting directly on the CNS or by affecting
the PNS. There are different types of
analgesics, each with its mechanism of
action and recommended uses.

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Antidiabetic Agents
– used to manage and control blood sugar
levels in individuals with diabetes. Diabetes
is a chronic medical condition wherein sugar
(glucose) levels are elevated due to either
inadequate insulin production or reduced
sensitivity to insulin; these help regulate
blood sugar to prevent complications.

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Antipsychotics
– “neuroleptics or tranquilizers”; used to
treat various psychiatric disorders,
particularly schizophrenia and bipolar
disorder; work by altering the levels of
neurotransmitters (chemical messengers in
the brain) to help manage symptoms of
psychosis – hallucination, delusion,
disorganized thinking.

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Bronchodilators
– use to relax and widen the airways
(bronchi and bronchioles) in the respiratory
system; primarily used in the treatment of
various lung conditions, particularly those
involving airway constriction and narrowing;
help improve airflow, making it easier to
breathe.

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Antihistamines
– use to relieve allergy symptoms and
symptoms of histamine-related conditions,
such as fever (allergic rhinitis), hives
(urticaria), and allergic conjunctivitis. They
work by blocking the effects of histamine, a
chemical released by the immune system in
response to allergens, which can cause
symptoms such as itching, sneezing, runny
nose, and swelling.

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Immunosuppressant
– suppresses or weakens the immune
system’s activity; used in medical practice
for several purposes, primarily to prevent
the body’s immune response from causing
harm to manage autoimmune diseases and
conditions where the immune system
attacks healthy tissues.

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Drug Standard
Standardization:
Needed to ensure that drug products will be uniformly pure and potent.

*United States Pharmacopeial Convention Inc. *

• A scientific, non-profit organization that sets standards for the identity,
strength, quality, and purity of medicines, food ingredients, dietary
supplements manufactured worldwide.
• Provides documentary standards and reference materials to safeguard
the dietary supplement supply and limit adulterants and contaminants.
• Offers the United States Pharmacopeia and The National Formulary
(USP–NF) a BOOK that contains public pharmacopeial standards and
monographs.
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Drug Information
Sources
1. Drug Labels – have specific
information that identifies a
specific drug. It identifies the
brand and generic names for the
drug, the drug dosage, the
expiration date, and special drug
warnings. Some labels also
indicate the route and dose for
administration.

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Drug Information
Sources
2. Package Inserts – prepared by the
manufacturer according to strict FDA
regulations. It contain all of the chemical
and study information that led to the
drug’s approval. These are sometimes
difficult to understand and are almost
always in small print – difficult to read.

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Drug Information
Sources
3. Reference Books
a. The Physician’s Drug Reference (PDR) – compilation of
package insert information from drugs used in the
country, along with some drug ad. It may not be the
best source because the information is heavily cross-
referenced.

b. Drug Facts and Comparisons – provides a wide range

of drug information (comparison, costs, patient
information sections, preparation, and administration).
This is organized by drug class and can be more user-
friendly than the PDR. But it is cumbersome and very
expensive.

c. AMA (American Medical Association) Drug

Evaluations – contain detailed monographs in an
unbiased format and includes many new drugs and
drugs still in research stage. 32
Drug Information
Sources
4. Lippincott’s Nursing Drug Guide (LNDG) – has drug
monographs organized alphabetically and includes nursing
implications and patient teaching points.

5. Journals – can be used to obtain drug information.

✓ Medical Letter – a monthly review of new drugs,
classes, and specific treatment protocols.
✓ The American Journal of Nursing – offers information
on new drugs, drug errors, and nursing implication.

4. Internet Information – may use this as a source of medical

information and advice.

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