Davis's - Therapeutic/Pharmacologic

[litlamp]

Could anyone elaborate what these terms really mean as far as classification? I read the contents definition but the terms are still unfamiliar.

I can get hung up on determining if a listing should fall under Therapeutic or Pharmacologic.

When referring to other sources it labels them as Class and sometimes that class is either Therapeutic or Pharmacologic and sometimes there is more than one (combo).

How do I know I'm correct with my listing? I see that the contents lists specific classifications. Are these the only and all? Then the sub category would be the Therapeutic listings, then... etc? Am I just making it more complicated than it really is?

For an example: Arixtra. Generic is fondaparinux. Therapeutic:anticoagulants/Pharmacologic:active factor X inhibitors.

When I look up fondaparinux it's also listed under Heparins with the Pharmacologic:antithrombotics.

So, where do I add Heparins? what is Heparins (I know what it does naturally, but as far as the category/classification)

Would I then say that the Therapeutic and Pharmacologic should include what I found under the Heparins heading too? and where does Heparins come in?

Gah:trout:

gotta love drug cards hehe, I'm just waiting for

Thanks in advance for any help!

~

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

If I'm understanding what you are asking, therapeutic refers to the response that the patient has, overall, as a result of the treatment or drug they are given. Pharmacologic refers to the effect the drug has on the physiology of the body, kind of at the cellular level. I would say that when you are classifying these think about their effect.

• What is the overall effect on the patient = therapeutic.
  
• What is the effect on the physiology of the body = pharmacologic

[litlamp]

I guess it's just going to take a bit more understanding on my part of terminology etc.

For instance Demerol, as identified in the monograph lists the classifications as Therapeutic: opiod analgesics, and Pharmacologic opiod agonists.

I get the general idea, I know Therapeutic is categorizing per the disease state they are used to treat, and the pharmacologic is based on the drugs mechanism of action.

What I have a hard time with is finding a drug listed in another source besides Davis's where they don't break it down that way. They just listed class as a general term that covered both classifications. I have a hard time deciphering which to put where. I hope that makes more sense. Probably seems like a silly thing to ask as I can easily over analyze something.

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

Why don't you get a different drug reference? I have, for years, used Mosby's Nursing Drug Reference.

[litlamp]

Will do, thanks again!

[APBT mom, LPN, RN]

We use the Davis Drug guide for our pharm cards too. The instructor told us that the classification we are to look at is therapeutic. If the drug doesn't have one then use pharmacologic (haven't came across one I don't think). You use the therapeutic one because that's the response you want in the patient.

As for the above post that suggested getting another drug book. Check with your instructors frist before you use it for class. I too have the Mosby's and I love it but we are required to get all of our info from Davis because that's the required text. If we don't then the cards don't count.