The nurse is teaching a patient the importance of taking the medication as prescribed. Patient teaching is guided by the nurse's knowledge of which principles of pharmacokinetics? Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected. Standard Text: Select all that apply

Question

1. A medication taken by injection must cross the membranes of the gastrointestinal tract to get to the bloodstream before it can be distributed throughout the body.
2. A drug may be exposed to several physiological processes while en route to target cells.
3. Liver enzymes may chemically change the drug.
4. Excretion organs such as kidneys and intestines must be healthy enough to eliminate the drug.
5. Many processes to which drugs are exposed are destructive, thereby helping facilitate the drug's movement throughout the body.

Answer 1

2,3,4,5
Rationale 1: Medications taken by mouth must cross the membranes of the GI tract to get to the bloodstream in order to be distributed throughout the body. This is not the case for medications administered by injection.
Rationale 2: Drugs taken orally are often exposed to physiological processes such as stomach acid and digestive enzymes.
Rationale 3: Enzymes in the liver may chemically change some drugs.
Rationale 4: Drugs will continue to act on the body until they are either metabolized to an inactive form or are excreted. Pathologic states such as kidney disease can increase the drug's action on the body.
Rationale 5: Many destructive processes, such as when stomach acid breaks down food, can break down the drug molecule before it can reach the target cells. This will facilitate the drug's movement throughout the body.
Global Rationale: Medications taken by mouth must cross the membranes of the GI tract to get to the bloodstream in order to be distributed throughout the body. This is not the case for medications administered by injection. Drugs taken orally are often exposed to physiological processes such as stomach acid and digestive enzymes. Enzymes in the liver may chemically change some drugs. Drugs will continue to act on the body until they are either metabolized to an inactive form or are excreted. Pathologic states such as kidney disease can increase the drug's action on the body. Many destructive processes, such as when stomach acid breaks down food, can break down the drug molecule before it can reach the target cells. This will facilitate the drug's movement throughout the body.