Pharmacology in Nursing

1. PHARMACOLOGY
MICHAEL I. AGGARI, RN,MSN,PhD(c)
Instructor, Pharmacology in Nursing

2. HISTORY OF PHARMACOLOGY:
The story of pharmacology is rich and exciting, filled with accidental
discoveries & landmark events.
 It began when a human first used a plant to relieve symptoms of disease.
 300 B.C. – earliest surviving “prescriptions” on clay tablets were recorded
by the Babylonians.
 2,700 B.C. - the Chinese recorded the Pen Tsao (Great Herbal) which is a
40 volume compendium of plant remedies.
 1,500 B.C. - Egyptians followed by archiving their remedies on a
document known as the Eber’s Papyrus (List of more than 700 different
remedies used to treat specific ailments).
 During the Dark Ages- little is known about Pharmacology although the
use for herbal medicine continues.

3.  1693- the first recorded reference to the word Pharmacology was found
in text “Pharmacologia sen Manuductio” and Materiam Medium” by
Samuel Dale.
 17th Century- William Harvey (English Physiologist) began to
explain how drugs exert their Beneficial and Harmful effect. He was
the first to demonstrate the circulation of blood in the body and
introduced a new way of administering drugs through intravenously
(IV).
 1800- It is Modern Pharmacology have begun.
 Chemists were making remarkable progress in isolating specific
substances from complex mixtures. Examples: Morphine, Colchicine,
Cocaine taken from their natural plant.
 1805- Frederich Sertuner was the first to isolate Morphine from
Opium.
 1847- First Department of Pharma was established in Estonia.
 John Jacob Abel- Father of American Pharmacology.

4.  1890- he was the founder of First Pharmacology
Department in U.S. at University of Michigan.
 19th century- Francois Magendie and Claude Bernal
(French Physiologist) demonstrated the certain drugs
work at specific sites of action within the body.
 Lister and Semmelweis- were the first to introduce the
use of antiseptics to prevent infection during surgery.
 Erlich- Discover antibiotics.
 Bantig and Best- Discover Insulin.
 20th Century- Synthesization of drugs in laboratory in a
very short time. It became possible to understand how
drugs produced their effects, down to their molecular
mechanism of action.

5. DEFINITION OF TERMS:
PHARMACOLOGY
 Derived from Greek word “PHARMAKON” means
DRUG & “LOGOS” which means “STUDY”.
 It deals with the study of drugs & their actions on living
organisms.
 A subject ranging from understanding how drugs are
administered, to where they travel in the body, to the
actual responses.

6. DRUG
 Any substance that alters physiologic function is the potential for affecting
health.
MEDICATION
 Drug administered for its therapeutic effect.
 Substance administered for diagnosis, cure, treatment, relief or prevention
of disease.
“All Medications are drugs, but not all drugs are Medications”.
THERAPEUTIC
 branch of medicine concerned with the prevention of disease and treatment
of suffering.

7. SUBDIVISONS OF PHARMACOLOGY:
 PHARMACODYNAMICS- study how body responds drugs.
 PHARMACOKINETICS- study of how drugs are handled by
the body.
 PHARMACOTHERAPEUTICS/PHARMACOTHERAPY-
study of the uses of drugs in the treatment of sick.
 PHARMACOGNOSY- concerned with the botanical sources of
drugs.
 PHARMACY- body of techniques involved in the preparation,
compounding and dispensing of drugs for medical use. It is also
concerned with preservation and storage of drugs.
 TOXICOLOGY- study of poisons effects that may produced by
drugs. Deals with the symptoms of poisoning with the treatment
of identification of poisons.

8. SIGNIFICANCE OF PHARMACOLOGY IN THE NURSING
PRACTICE
- It is significant to the nursing practice due to the fact that the
nurse should:
 Evaluates the effects of medication to the clients’ health status.
 Teach the clients about their medication & their side effects.
 Ensures clients’ adherence with the medication regimen.
 Evaluates client technique when administer medication.
 Spends a great deal of time administering medications to the
clients.
 Ensures that the clients are adequately prepared to administer their
medications when they are discharged.

9. SOURCES OF DRUGS
 PLANTS- Digitalis, opium
 ANIMALS- insulin, epinephrine
 MINERALS and MINERAL PRODUCTS- iron
 CHEMICALS MADE IN THE LABORATORY

10. USES OF DRUGS
 PALLIATIVE- relieves the symptoms of a disease but do
not affect the disease itself.
 CURATIVE- use to treat conditions.
 SUPPORTIVE- sustains body function until other
treatment of the body’s response can take over.
 SUBSTITUTIVE- replaces body fluids or substances.
 CHEMOTHERAPEUTIC- destroys malignant cells.
 RESTORATIVE- returns the body to health.

11. DIFFERENT DOSAGE FORMS:
 CAPLET- shape like capsule.
 CAPSULE- encase by gelatic gel.
 EMULSION- oil based liquid medication
 ELIXIR- clear fluid containing water and alcohol.
 LINIMENT- containing alcohol oil or soapy emollient
that is applied to the skin.
 LOTION- liquid suspension applied externally to
protect skin.
 OINTMENT- semi-solid externally applied preparation
usually containing one or more drug.

12. DIFFERENT DOSAGE FORMS:
 PASTE- thicker and stiffer than ointment.
 PILLS- shaped to globules or oblique shapes.
 SUPPOSITORY- for insertion in the body cavity.
 SUSPENSION- purely divided drug particles disperse in
medium.
 SYRUP- medication dissolved in concentrated sugar
 TABLET- powdered dosage from compressed into hard disk
like form.
 LOZENGES- Flat, round dosage form containing
medication, flavoring, sugar, and mucilage, dissolves in
mouth to release medication.

16. ORAL FORM
 Most common, safest economic and convenient of giving medication.
ADVANTAGE:
 Less expensive
 Does not break skin barrier
DISADVANTAGE
 Inappropriate for client with nausea and vomiting.
 May have unpleasant odor or taste.
 Inappropriate if client cannot swallow and if GIT reduced motility.
 It may discolor teeth
 Drugs may irritate Gastric Mucosa.
 Drugs maybe aspirated by serious ill.
FORMS:
 SOLID- tablet, capsule, pill, powder
 LIQUID- syrup, suspension, emulsion, elixir

17. SUBLINGUAL FORM
 A drug that is placed under the tongue where it dissolve
 When a medication is in a capsule and ordered sublingually, the
liquid must be aspirated from capsule placed under the tongue.
ADVANTAGE:
 Drug can be administered for local effect
 Drug id rapidly absorbed in the bloodstream
DISADVANTAGE:
 If swallowed, drug may be inactivate by gastric juice.
 Drug must remain under the tongue until it dissolved and
absorbed.

19. BUCCAL FORM
 A medication is held in the mouth against the mucous
membrane of the cheek until the drug dissolves.
 It is less permeable to most medications than the sublingual
area, providing slower absorption.
ADVANTAGE:
 Drugs can be administered for local effect
 Ensures greater potency because drug directly enters the blood
and bypass the liver.
DISADVANTAGE:
 If swallowed, it will inactivate by Gastric Juice.

20. TOPICAL FORM
 Administration of medication to a circumscribed area of the body.
1) DERMATOLOGIC- most common topical route, applied in the skin.
Ex: creams, lotion, gels, powder
2) INSTILLATIONS & IRRIGATIONS- application of drugs into the body cavities.
Ex: eyes, ears, nose, urinary bladder, rectum and vagina
- OPTHALMIC- used to treat local conditions of the eyes and surrounding structure.
- OTIC- used to treat local conditions of ear.
- NASAL- instilled for their astringent effect, to loosen secretion, and facilitate drainage
or to treat infection of nasal cavity.
- VAGINAL- use to deliver medications for treatment of local infections and to relieve
pain and itching.
- RECTAL- use for either local systemic drug administration.

21. PARENTERAL FORM
 administration of medication by needle.
INTRADERMAL (ID)
 Administration of medication into the dermis layer of the
skin.
 Sites are the inner lower arm, upper chest and back and
beneath the scapulae.
 Indicated for allergy, tuberculosis testing and for
vaccination.
 Use needle gauge 25,26,27
 Needle at 10-15 angle, bevel up
 Do not massage the site of injection.

22. SUBCUTANEOUS (SC or SQ)
 Administration through subcutaneous tissue.
 Sites are upper arms, anterior aspect of thigh, abdomen,
scapular areas of upper back, ventrogluteal, and
dorsogluteal areas
 Only small doses of medication should be injected
(0.5ml- 1ml)
 Inject 45 degrees angle (thin) 90 degrees angle for
obese.
 Aspirate before injection to check if blood vessel had
been hit.

24. INTRAMUSCULAR (IM)
 Administration through muscle
 Needle gauge: 20,21,22,23
Sites:
VENTROGLUTEAL SITE (von Hochsteter’s Site)
 Contains no large blood vessels or nerves.
 Suitable for children over 7 months.
DORSOGLUTEAL SITE
 Uses the Gluteus Medius Muscle
 Site should not be use for infants under 3 years because gluteal muscles
are not yet developed yet.
 nerve and radial artery.

25. VASTUS LATERALIS
 Recommended site for infants
 Located at the middle third of the anterior lateral aspect of
thigh
RECTUS FEMORIS
 Located at the middle third anterior aspect of thigh
DELTOID
 Not used often because it is relatively small muscle and
very close to the radial nerve and radial artery.

27. INTRAVENOUS (IV)
 Direct IV, IV push, IV Infusion
 Most rapid absorption of medication
 Use for clients with compromised Gastrointestinal function
or peripheral circulation.
 Larger doses of medications can be administered by this
route.
INHALATION FORM
 Provides rapid relief for local respiratory problems.
 Route provides easy access for introduction of general
anesthetic gases.

29. THANK YOU!!!