Question

2. Describe the following drug-related effects and concepts:

to. peak drug level

b. drug valley level

c. agonist

d. antagonist

and. secondary effect

F. adverse effect

g. toxic effect

h. biological half life

i. initial loading dose

j. tolerance

 

3. List five (3) nursing interventions to prevent errors in administering medications and (3) cultural considerations that must be taken into account in administering medications.

Answer 1

2.

a. Peak drug level: It can be defined as the condition that the highest concentration of a drug in the patient's blood stream.

b. Drug valley level: It can be defined as the condition that the lowest concentration of a drug in the patient's blood stream. It can also termed as trough level.

c. Agonist: It is a medication that mimics the action of the signal ligand by binding to and activating a receptor.

d. Antagonist: It is a medication that typically binds to a receptor without activation.

e. Secondary effect: It can be defined as the effect that is therapeutic or adverse. It can be intended or unintended. It may be beneficial or not beneficial.

f. Adverse effect: It can be defined as the harmful or abnormal result caused by administration of a medication or by exposure to a chemical. The abnormal result may illness or death.

g. Toxic effect: It can be defined as the adverse effect of a drug produced by an exaggeration of the effect that produces the therapeutic response.

h. Biological half life: Biological half life of a biological substance such as medication is the time it takes from its maximum concentration to half maximum concentration in human body. It is aslo called as elimination half life or pharmacologic half life.

i. Intial loading dose: It is an initial higher dose of a drug that may be given at the beginning of a course of treatment before dropping down to a lower maintenance dose.

j. Tolerance: It can be defined as the person's reaction to a drug decreases as they continue to use it.

3. Nursing interventions to prevent errors in administering medications:

• Follow proper medication reconciliation procedures
• Check the procedures twice or thrice
• Document everything