The general principles of drug action
Scenario
Martin
Martin is a 46-year-old man who works as a self-employed car mechanic. Martin suffers with seasonal rhinitis and has been taking an over the counter (OTC) medication Piriteze 10 mg once daily, to alleviate the symptoms. Martin phoned the GP surgery today for advice because he is feeling increasingly dizzy, drowsy and losing his balance. This is affecting his ability to work, and he cannot afford to take time off, his wife urged him to contact the GP or visit A&E.
At the phone consultation, Martin informs the Practice Nurse that he has not been taking his medication, Enalapril Maleate 10 mg, for his recently diagnosed hypertension as he is concerned that this may have been contributing to his dizziness.
Requirement
1. Identify and describe the general principles of drug action, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics.
2. Apply detailed knowledge of pharmacology to medicines encountered in practice.
3. Recognise responses to administered medications including therapeutic and adverse effects.
4. Analyse ways of working collaboratively with patients and service users with particular reference to informed choice in client decision making and supporting adherence.
Sample Solution
The general principles of drug action, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics are essential components to understand when considering medicines optimization. Pharmacokinetics can be defined as the study of how drugs move through the body such as absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion (Golan & Tashjian, 2016). This is important since it helps determine how effective a medication may be since different factors such as age or physical size can influence the rate at which substances enter into circulation within the body.
In contrast, pharmacodynamics involve studying how drugs interact with cellular receptors in order to cause a desired effect (Katzung & Trevor 2020). Depending on the type of medicine this could range from pain relief or providing energy boosts etc . However , if too much of a particular active ingredient is taken then adverse reactions can occur due to over-stimulation so its important that accurate dosages are followed.
Finally , it should also be noted that many medications work synergistically with each other – meaning they become more powerful when combined together – hence why Martin’s doctor prescribed both Piriteze and Enalapril Maleate for his conditions. This highlights why its essential for healthcare providers to have an understanding about drug interactions /contraindications before combining any compounds so as to prevent unnecessary harm being caused unintentionally in cases like this one.
