Medical

PHARMACOLOGY

Administration of Medications
General Information

    A. The scientific age has introduced an increasing number of pharmaceuticals appropriate for the relief of stress symptoms, for support of defense systems, and as adjuncts to other supplemental and curative therapies
    B. Drug nomenclature
        1. Official name (generic, nonproprietary): designated title under which a drug is listed in official publications
        2. Chemical name: descriptive name identifying chemical composition and placement of atoms
        3. Trade name (brand, proprietary): manufacturer’s registered and legally owned name for a drug
    C. Sources of drugs
        1. Active constituents of plants: for example, alkaloids, glycosides, gums, resins, tannins, waxes, volatile or fixed oils
        2. Animal sources of biologic products: for example, enzymes, serum vaccines, antitoxins, toxoids, hormones
        3. Mineral sources: for example, iron, iodine, Epsom salt
        4. Chemically and biologically engineered substances: for example, human insulin
    D. Types of pharmaceutical preparations
        1. Prepared by manufacturer in units for convenience of administration
        2. Forms used include capsules, extended-release capsules, tablets (enteric coated, extended release), troches, pills, suppositories, powders, ampules, vials, delayed-release (repository) suspensions, prefilled cartridges, liniments, lotions, cream, ointments, pastes, aerosols, transdermal preparations
        3. Chemical preparations: solutions (waters, true solutions, syrups), aqueous suspensions (mixtures, emulsions, magmas, gels), spirits, elixirs, tinctures, fluid extracts, extracts

Basic concepts

    A. The administration of medications is a dependent function requiring a legally written order and knowledge of the medication’s cause and effect
    B. Legally, morally, and ethically, independent judgment is required before prescribed medications are...