The following terms are briefly defined to ground the concepts that will be 15) DRUG-DRUG INTERACTION occurs

curs when two or more drugs are given

reviewed within this learning activity (Frandsen & Pennington, 2018; that can radically change the action of either drug or both drugs in the
Katzung, 2018; Lilley et al., 2017): body by reducing absorption or increasing toxicity.
16) DRUG-FOOD INTERACTION occurs when a drug is given alongside a
1) ABSORPTION is the movement of a drug from the site of administration
specific type of food that can radically change its action by reducing
to various tissues in the body.
absorption or increasing toxicity.
2) ADVERSE DRUG EFFECT is an unintended and unexpected effect of a
17) DRUG METABOLISM is the change (i.e., chemical alteration) that occurs
drug that can be severe and life-threatening at a therapeutic dose.
within a drug, making it more or less potent.
3) AGONIST is a drug that stimulates (or activates) receptor(s) in the body.
18) EXCRETION is the elimination of a drug or its metabolites through
4) ALLERGIC REACTION is an immunologic-based hypersensitivity response
various parts of the body.
that results from administering a drug to an individual sensitive to that
19) FIRST-PASS EFFECT is the effect the liver has on a drug as it passes
drug.
through for the first time, deactivating a portion of it.
5) ANTAGONIST is a drug that inhibits the activity of receptor(s) in the
20) HALF-LIFE is the time it takes for a drug that enters the body to decrease
body.
in amount by half.
6) BIOTRANSFORMATION is a biochemical reaction that primarily occurs in
21) HYPERSENSITIVITY REACTION occurs secondary to administering a drug
the liver and produces an active or inactive metabolite of the original
that a patient's body perceives as a foreign substance, precipitating a
drug.
mild to moderate histamine release.
7) BLOOD-BRAIN BARRIER is the protective barricade that selectively
22) LEGEND DRUGS are drugs that are determined unsafe for over-the-
restricts the passage of chemicals from the bloodstream to the brain.
counter purchase because of possible harmful side effects if taken
8) DURATION OF ACTION is the time a drug is in the blood in sufficient
indiscriminately.
amounts to elicit a response.
23) METABOLITE is a chemical form of a drug remaining after
9) CONTRAINDICATION is a disease state or patient characteristic that
biotransformation that may or may not have a pharmacologic effect.
renders a drug inappropriate to be used due to the potential for adverse
24) ONSET OF ACTION is the time it takes for a drug to exert its therapeutic
effects.
effect.
10) CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES are drugs controlled by prescription
25) PEAK LEVEL of a drug is the point in time when a drug is at its highest
requirement because of the danger of addiction or abuse.
concentration in the body.
11) CUMULATIVE EFFECTS occur when the body cannot metabolize and
26) PHARMACEUTICS are the various pharmaceutical properties a drug
excrete a drug before the next dose is given.
possesses based on its form and chemical composition.
12) DISTRIBUTION is the movement of the drug by the circulatory system to
27) PHARMACODYNAMICS reflects the biochemical changes that occur in
its intended site of action.
the body because of a drug.
13) DRUG'S BRAND/TRADE NAME refers to the advertised name under
28) PHARMACOKINETICS refers to how a drug travels through the body and
which the drug is sold.
undergoes the biochemical processes of absorption, distribution,
14) DRUG'S GENERIC NAME refers to the chemical makeup, structure, or
metabolism, and excretion.
formula of a drug rather than the advertised brand name under which it
29) PHARMACOLOGY is the study of drugs and their effects on the body.
is sold.
30) PRECAUTIONS refer to actions that should be employed when
medications are prescribed that can cause adverse effects in specific
populations or with other drugs or foods.
31) SIDE EFFECTS are the unintended effects of a drug that commonly occur
and are mild at a therapeutic dose.
32) SYNERGISTIC EFFECT occurs when two drugs with similar actions are
given, creating a summative response greater than the response when
the drugs are given alone.
33) THERAPEUTIC EFFECT is the desired effect of a drug.
34) TOLERANCE occurs when the body becomes accustomed to medication
from prolonged use, leading to a decline in its therapeutic effects.
35) TOXICOLOGY is a branch of pharmacology that focuses on the
undesirable effects of chemicals on living systems, ranging from
individual cells to humans to complex ecosystems.
36) TROUGH LEVEL is the point in time when a drug is at its lowest
concentration in the body.

Medications are chemicals used to treat illness, slow disease progression,

improve quality of life, alleviate symptoms, and improve patient outcomes.
There is an increased reliance on medication therapy in modern-day health
care to support vital physiological processes and remedy illnesses. More
than 10,000 prescription medications are available in the US, and
approximately one-third of adults take at least five medications
simultaneously. While medication therapy can be lifesaving or life-
prolonging, every medication has the potential to cause harm inadvertently
as a consequence of unintended side effects or medication errors (Agency
for Healthcare Research and Quality [AHRQ], 2019). Nurses’ primary
responsibility in patient care and medication therapy is to promote patient
safety. Medication administration is a core aspect of nursing practice, but
nursing responsibilities extend beyond the mere administration of
medication. At the most basic level, nurses must learn the various classes of
medications, understand how medications work, recognize both the generic
and brand name of medications, follow the restrictions regarding controlled
substances, be familiar with credible resources to obtain spec