Effects of Medication, Adverse Effects, and Treatments
Course
Practicum in
Health Science Pharmacology
Unit V
Anatomy and
Physiology and
Pathophysiology
Essential
Question
Why is it
important for the
healthcare
worker to know
how a
medication
works?
TEKS
130.205(c)
1D, 1G, 1H, 6A
Prior Student
Learning
None
Estimated time
3-6 hours
Rationale
An essential component of pharmacology is the potential for toxicity of
medications and their actions on the different body systems.
Objectives
Upon completion of this lesson, the student will be able to:

Interpret technical material related to pharmacology

Identify side effects, toxic effects, and adverse reactions of drugs on
the human body
Engage
Have students name side effects given in medication commercials; make a
list on the board.
Key Points
I. Effects of medication
A. Therapeutic Effects
1. Desired or intended effects of medication -- refers to the primary
purpose of prescribing and administrating medication
2. Medication -- a substance with therapeutic value used in treating a
disease or disorder
B. Side Effects -- unintended or secondary effects
1. May not be harmful
2. May permit the drug to be used for a secondary purpose
C. Adverse Effects -- undesired effects that may be harmful
1. May damage function of vital organs over prolonged time
2. May be minimized by reducing dosage or switching medication
D. Toxic Effects -- can be extremely harmful; can sometimes be life
threatening; implies drug poisoning
1. Poison -- any substance which, when ingested, inhaled or
absorbed, or when applied to, injected into, or developed within
the body, in relatively small amounts, by its chemical action may
cause damage to structure or disturbance of function
2. Toxin -- a poison; frequently used to refer specifically to a protein
produced by some higher plants, certain animals, and pathogenic
bacteria, which is highly toxic for other living organisms. Such
substances are differentiated from the simple chemical poisons
and the vegetable alkaloids by their high molecular weight and
antigenicity.
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3. Toxicity -- the quality of being poisonous, especially the degree of
virulence of a toxic micron or of a poison
4. Drug must be stopped
5. Additionally may require supportive treatment and administration
of antidotes
II. Causes of Adverse and Toxic Effects
A. All drugs are potentially dangerous
1. Many medications used for everyday illnesses or chronic diseases
are considered harmless, especially if OTC
2. OTCs perceived generally to be safe since no prescription is
required
3. Prescribed medications assumed to be safe since physician would
not prescribe something that might harm the patient
4. Lack of understanding -- drugs can cause toxicity even if taken as
directed
B. Overdose -- taking more than prescribed or advised
1. Accidentally
2. Purposeful
C. Age
1. Child may be unable to metabolize at needed rate if dose too
large, e.g., parent giving adult dose of Tylenol
2. Elderly -- metabolism slows down, organs (liver, kidneys) not
working at full capacity – drug levels can build up, eventually
leading to toxic levels
D. Disease
1. Weakens or impairs function of organs causing drugs not to be
metabolized at efficient rate, potentially leading to toxic buildup
a. liver – cannot metabolize drugs at most efficient rate
b. kidneys – cannot excrete substances at most efficient rate
2. Some medications cause the organs to be weakened, sometimes
to the point of complete failure (may be temporary)
E. Drug Interactions
1. May react with other drugs creating toxic substances when
combined
2. May react with another drug potentiating the effect
3. Medication may interact with certain foods, leading to toxic buildup
a. slowing down metabolizing of drug
b. preventing metabolizing of drug
c. combining with drug causing toxic substances to develop
F. Allergies -- patient’s reactivity is altered due to previous contact with
drug acting as antigen or allergen
1. Unpredictable
a. may develop after drug has already been taken for some time
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.
2.
3.
4.
5.
b. may be idiosyncratic; no known reason as to why patient reacts
this way to drug
Not dose-related
Can cause serious toxicity
May be caused by combination with other substances, intentional
or not
Symptoms vary greatly
III. Treatment
A. Overdose and Toxic Effect
1. Inducing emesis
2. Gastric lavage
3. Activated charcoal
4. In some cases reducing drug levels may be sufficient, e.g., in
gentamycin
5. Reduce dosage and frequency
6. Intermittent discontinuation of drug until serum levels back within
normal range
B. Allergies – the drug must be stopped or discontinued until sensitivity
testing is completed
C. Supportive Treatment
1. Kidney dialysis in case of renal failure
2. Administration of antidotes
3. Mechanical ventilation
4. Administration of drug-binding agents, e.g., Digibind for digitalis
IV. Prevention
A. Education of patient
1. Expected effects
2. Symptoms of unexpected effects
3. Anticoagulants
4. Some antibiotics, e.g., gentamycin, amikacin
5. Lithium
6. Phenobarbital
B. Safety
1. Child resistant containers or caps
2. Take medication as prescribed
V. Drugs and Neurotransmitters
Review synapses and neurotransmitters
View the mouse party activity
http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/addiction/drugs/mouse.html
Activity
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.
I. Research 10 medications. Identify and classify medications according to
their potential toxic effects on the different organs and body systems.
See worksheet.
II. Create a table listing common toxic substances, specifically OTC
medications, the signs and symptoms of toxicity, and their antidotes,
including effective household remedies.
III. Create a medication safety brochure to include medication information –
intended use, side effects, toxic effects, first aid and 911 or poison control
information.
Assessment
Project Rubric
Materials
Contact your local Poison Control Center information
http://www.poisoncontrol.org/
Internet
Library
Accommodations for Learning Differences
For reinforcement the student will design a poster depicting toxic dangers of
medications (prescription and non-prescription).
For enrichment the student will prepare and present a community education
session on the potential toxic effects of medications, the drugs most at risk,
the signs and symptoms to recognize, the ways to prevent toxicity, and the
required interventions. Use any audiovisual means of communication (video,
public speaking, posters, pamphlets, slides, etc.)
Teacher Reference:
http://teens.drugabuse.gov/educators/curricula-and-lesson-plans
National and State Education Standards
National Health Care Foundation Standards
Foundation Standard 3: Systems
Healthcare professionals will understand how their role fits into their
department, their organization and the overall healthcare environment. They
will identify how key systems affect services they perform and quality of care.
Accountability Criteria
3.1 Healthcare Delivery Systems
3.11 Understand the healthcare delivery system (public, private,
government, and non-profit).
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.
3.13 Describe the responsibilities of consumers within the healthcare
system.
3.14 Explain the impact of emerging issues such as technology,
epidemiology, bioethics, and socioeconomics on healthcare delivery
systems.
Foundation Standard 7: Safety Practices
Healthcare professionals will understand the existing and potential hazards
to clients, co-workers, and self. They will prevent injury or illness through
safe work practices and follow health and safety policies and procedures.
Accountability Criteria
7.3 Environmental Safety
7.31 Apply safety techniques in the work environment
TEKS
130.205(c)(1)(D) examine the environmental factors that affect homeostasis;
130.205(c)(1)(G) implement scientific methods in preparing clinical case
studies; and
130.205(c)(1)(H) compare and contrast health issues in the global society.
130.205(c)(6)(A) integrate regulatory standards such as standard
precautions and safe patient handling;
Texas College and Career Readiness Standards
I. Nature of Science: Scientific Ways of Learning and Thinking
C. Collaborative and safe working practices
1. Collaborate on joint projects.
E. Effective communication of scientific information
2. Use essential vocabulary of the discipline being studied.
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.
Toxic Effects of Medications
Research your assigned 10 medications, identify, and classify the medications according to their
potential toxic effects on the different organs and body systems.
Name of
Medication
Classification
of Medication
Potential Toxic
Effect
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
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Body
System/Organ
Affected
7.
8.
9.
10.
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Project Rubric
Student: ___________________________________
Course:
___________________________________
Date:
___________________________________
Scoring criteria
2
1
4
3
Needs Some Needs Much N/A
Excellent Good
Improvement Improvement
Clearly/effectively communicates the main
idea or theme.
Information is clearly presented.
Strong examples are used to describe the
theme or objective.
Illustrations follow a logical reasoning.
Each image and font size is legible to the
entire audience.
NOTE: N/A represents a response to the performance which is "not appropriate."
Scale:
22-25 - A Excellent
18-21 - B Good
14-17 - C Needs Some Improvement
10-13 - D Needs Much Improvement
5-9 - F Not Appropriate
TOTAL =
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