Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems for Medicine & Health

Pharmacology Fundamentals

Pharmacokinetics: What the Body Does to the Drug

Phases:

1. Absorption – How a drug enters the bloodstream

2. Distribution – How a drug travels through the body

3. Metabolism – How a drug is broken down (mainly in the liver)

4. Excretion – How a drug leaves the body (mainly through the kidneys)

🧠 Memory Trick: ADME — Absorb, Deliver, Metabolize, Exit

Pharmacodynamics: What the Drug Does to the Body

• Describes how a drug works at the target site

• Involves receptor binding, enzyme interactions, and therapeutic vs. side effects

Examples:

• Beta blockers bind to beta receptors → slow heart rate

• Insulin binds to insulin receptors → lowers blood sugar

Drug Release Types: ER, IR, SR, XL, CR

Anti-Motility Medications (Pharmacy Only)

These medications work by relaxing the smooth muscles in the intestinal wall, reducing bowel movements.

Loperamide + Co-phenotrope (Dhamotil)

Loperamide

• Indication: Symptomatic relief of acute or chronic diarrhea.
• Dose: Maximum 16mg daily. Limit use to less than 48 hours.
• Side Effects: Constipation, nausea, vomiting, bloating.
• Special Precautions (SPC):
  • Stop taking once diarrhea resolves (constipation may occur).
  • Take with food.

Co-phenotrope

• Indication: Acute diarrhea in adults.
• Dose: Maximum 8 tablets daily.
• Contraindications: Not for children under 12 years old.
• Special Precautions (SPC): May cause dizziness and drowsiness; do not drive or operate machinery.

Adsorbent Medications (General Sales List)

Adsorbents... Continue reading "Effective Diarrhea Relief: Medications and Management" »

Common Medical Abbreviations

• RSI: Repetitive Stress Injury
• SAD: Seasonal Affective Disorder
• SIDS: Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
• GP: General Practitioner
• HAV: Hepatitis A Virus
• MD: Medical Doctor

Medications and Treatments

• Decongestant: Decreases nasal stuffiness and relieves a runny nose.
• Anticoagulant: Prevents or delays blood clotting.
• Sedative: Relieves symptoms of stress, irritability, or excitement.
• Laxative: Relieves constipation.
• Digitalis: Strengthens the failing heart.
• Diuretic: Removes excess fluid from the body.
• Antibiotic: Treats infections caused by bacteria and other microorganisms.
• Insulin: Regulates the level of sugar in the blood, used to treat diabetes.

Common Symptoms and Their Causes

• Fainting, dizziness: Anemia
• Headache: Sinus infection
• Fever:

Vocabulary

• Being admired by the people around you
• Being part of a loving family
• Doing really well in your studies or work
• Having enough money to live well
• Having friends
• Having a lot of time to spend on the things I love doing
• Living in a nice neighborhood

Achieve, Carry Out, and Devote

• Achieve: *conseguir/lograr* (It helped her to achieve her aim of improving her family's happiness)
• Carry out: *llevar a cabo* (Susan's concerns prompted her to carry out her own research)
• Devote: *dedicar* (We know devoting more time...)

Stay, Spend, and Pass

• Stay: *permanecer, estar tiempo* (I stayed 2 hours listening to the radio)
• Spend: *pasar/gastar* (I have spent my life studying)
• Pass: *pasar tiempo*

Make, Cause, and Have

• Make: *hizo que* (The bad sound made the film difficult

Here's a list of common English words and their meanings:

1. Want: Desire something.
2. Soar: Rise high.
3. Wail: Cry loudly.
4. Fell: Knock down or drop.
5. Get into: Become involved.
6. Spring: Jump or the season.
7. Own: Possess something.
8. Wore: Past of "wear", dressed.
9. Ride: Travel or sit on.
10. Smiled: Past of "smile", grinned.
11. Flow: Move smoothly. (Corrected from "Fow")
12. Slowly: At a slow pace.
13. Robbery: Theft.
14. Flat: Level surface or an apartment.
15. Fridge: Refrigerator.
16. Disagree: Differ in opinion.
17. Fed: Past of "feed", gave food.
18. Forward: Toward the front.
19. Will: Intent or future tense.
20. Weight: Mass or heaviness.
21. Behind: At the back of.
22. Hurt: Cause pain or injury.
23. Copula: A linking verb (Corrected from "Copboola")
24. Brushed: Past of "brush", swept or touched lightly.
25. Taste: Flavor or sample.

Health and Well-being Vocabulary

• Burn off
• Complexion
• Craze (a popular trend or fashion)
• Do (something/someone) the world of good
• Fad (a short-term trend)
• Get back into shape
• Mindfulness
• Pull a muscle
• Stamina
• Therapeutic
• Well-being
• Wrinkle (a crease or line in the skin)
• Aches and pains
• (As) Fit as a fiddle
• Be the picture of health
• Be back on your feet
• Be full of beans
• Hard of hearing
• (Have) A frog in your throat
• Off-colour (slightly ill)
• Alleviate symptoms
• Be prescribed medication
• Consult a specialist
• Contract an illness
• Have an operation
• Have treatment
• Miss an appointment
• Sustain an injury (suffer physical damage due to an accident)

Challenges, Progress, and Success Terms

• A long shot (a remote possibility)
• Be more than you bargained for
• On track (making progress and likely

Common Vocabulary Terms

Full Stop

Definition: A mark (.) indicating the end of a sentence or declarative statement.

Example: Remember to use a full stop at the end of every sentence.

Handbag

Definition: A small bag, often carried by women, for money, keys, and personal items.

Example: My mother always carried a handbag containing her essentials.

Means

Definition: A method, course of action, or instrument by which something can be accomplished.

Example: He used effective means to achieve his goal.

Mobile Phone

Definition: A portable telephone that can make and receive calls over a cellular network.

Example: Yesterday, I bought a very modern mobile phone.

Motorway

Definition: A wide road, built for fast-moving traffic over long distances.

Example: I saw a black... Continue reading "Everyday English Words: Meanings and Usage Examples" »

Tell me about you:

My name is Rachelle. I'm currently at University of Memphis Lambuth studying in my second semester of nursing. I am Social Chair for the Student Nurses' Association. I've always been fascinated in the human brain and why it works the way it does, and what happens when it isn't working. Following taking care of my diabetic grandfather, I always knew I wanted to be a nurse, and I have overcome many obstacles to get here. When I earn my degree, I want to be working on this floor. If I should summarize myself, I would say I am a leader, responsible, compassionate and very detail-oriented, though sometimes I can be too hard on myself to strive for perfection. I switched from the law field to healthcare because I want a career with... Continue reading "Passionate Nursing Student Seeking Neuro Floor Position" »

Direct Health Consequences of Tobacco Use

Smoking is a direct path to severe health deterioration. Currently, approximately half of the men and a quarter of the women globally engage in smoking. Some mistakenly believe that refraining from smoking is pointless, given that many urban and even rural inhabitants breathe air contaminated with industrial and automobile emissions. This perspective is profoundly incorrect. While vehicle exhaust gases are inherently harmful, a smoker is exposed to far greater dangers.

Increased Occupational Risks and WHO Findings

Consider another example: according to figures from the World Health Organization (WHO), the risk rate is significantly higher among smoking workers in specific industries. These include:

• Heavy