Importance Of Understanding Ion Trapping

Chapter 4 Pharmacokinetics Learning Objectives: 1. List the four main processes that make up pharmacokinetics. ● The four main processes that make up pharmacokinetics are absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion. Chapter 4 reading: Pharmacokinetics is the study of how drugs move throughout the body, including processes like absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion. Understanding pharmacokinetics is crucial in maximizing the benefits of drug therapy and minimizing harm. By applying this knowledge, healthcare professionals can make informed decisions regarding dosage, route of administration, and dosing schedule. Bullet points Importance of understanding ion trapping ● Knowledge of ion trapping helps understand drug absorption, as well as the movement of drugs to sites of action, metabolism, and excretion Routes of drug administration ● ● ● The major routes of drug administration are oral, intravenous, intramuscular, and subcutaneous The absorption pattern differs for each route and is influenced by the barriers to absorption associated with each route The route of administration significantly affects the onset and intensity of drug effects Factors affecting drug absorption ● ● ● The rate of drug dissolution determines the rate of absorption Drugs in formulations that allow rapid dissolution have a faster onset of action The surface area available for absorption is a major determinant of the rate of absorption Advantages of intravenous administration ● ● ● Intravenous administration bypasses barriers to absorption, resulting in instantaneous and complete absorption Intravenous administration provides rapid onset of action, making it beneficial in emergencies Intravenous administration allows for precise control over the entire dose administered Note: The original text was heavily fragmented and did not provide the complete context of the topic. The summary above includes the relevant information provided in the text. Precise control over drug levels in the blood ● ● Nurse has precise control over drug levels because they can directly administer drugs into the bloodstream Contrasts with other routes of administration where drug absorption is less predictable Permits use of large fluid volumes ● ● ● Intravenous (IV) route allows for the use of large volumes of fluid Creates a large concentration gradient for rapid drug absorption Some drugs poorly soluble in water can be dissolved in a large volume for administration Permits use of irritant drugs ● ● Certain drugs with irritant properties can only be administered intravenously These drugs can be quickly diluted and minimized for the risk of local injury pH partitioning ● ● Absorption can be enhanced when there is a pH difference between plasma and the site of administration Drug molecules have a greater tendency to be ionized in the plasma Disadvantages of intravenous administration ● ● ● ● High cost, difficulty, and inconvenience Setting up an IV line takes time and special training Patients are unable to self-administer IV drugs and depend on healthcare professionals Risk of fluid overload, infection, and embolism Dangers of IV administration ● ● ● ● IV administration can cause embolism, where a blood clot blocks a blood vessel at a distant site The insertion of an IV needle can injure the venous wall and lead to the formation of a clot Hypotonic or hypertonic fluids can destroy red blood cells and produce embolism Drugs that are not fully dissolved can also cause embolism Importance of slow injection and checking IV solutions ● ● ● ● Most IV drugs should be injected slowly, over 1 minute or more, to minimize the risk of embolism and CNS toxicity Injecting a drug slowly dilutes it in the largest possible volume of blood IV solutions should be checked for clarity and particles before administration Fluid overload can occur when drugs are administered in a large volume The importance of reading labels ● ● ● ● Not all formulations of the same drug are appropriate for IV administration Reading the label is essential to avoid inadvertent IV administration of drugs that could be harmful Infection can occur from injecting a contaminated drug or due to improper technique Infection risk has decreased with modern drug sterilization techniques and strict administration standards