Pharmacology for the Radiographer
Adverse Drug Reactions
Adverse reactions to drugs can include gastric distress & allergic or hypertensive reactions that may range from mild urticaria to severe anaphylactic shock.
Some adverse reactions occur immediately after the drug is administered, and some take weeks or months of administration before an untoward reaction is produced.
Drug Standards
The federal government of the United States has standards for control of drug safety that are strictly enforced.
Through the years, these laws have been amended to ensure that drugs are thoroughly tested and proven safe before marketing.
Drug Sources, Names and Actions
Drugs come from many natural and synthetic sources. Some are produced from animal sources, such as hormonal drugs. Many come from plant resources, such as digitalis and atropine. Others are produced from microorganisms as are many antibiotics.Minerals are the source of calcium, iron and other dietary supplements are herbal remedies.
The following list should help sort out the way drugs are named:
Proprietary or trade names are assigned to a drug by a particular manufacturer of the drug
Chemical name of a drug presents its exact chemical formula of a drug and always remain the same.
Generic name of a drug is the name given to a drug before its official approval for use.