Feeling like a complete idiot - pharmacology help

justjenny · Jan 17, 2004

I think you should check with your school for a tutor to help. We have a Lab Aide (I don't know her "official" title) who we can make an appointment with to practice clinical procedures, vitals, etc. etc. she is wonderful and helpful.

Also, there must be someone in your class who is good at pharm. - ask if they would be willing to have a study session or two... or three..... ;-)

Jenny

TeresaRN2b · Jan 17, 2004

Thanks, for the advice.

I think I got it now though. I have a habit of overcomplicating the questions and after re-reading the questions I think I get it. Protein binding mostly affects drug-drug interactions. I guess I was thinking it was something more complicated than that and now I realize the main reason to understand protein binding is because drugs that are highly protein bound include the risk for drug interactions and the risk of drug toxicity because the drug stays around in the body longer if highly protein-bound. Not feeling so stupid, now. I guess I kept thinking protein binding was some type of math problem like half-life and it's not. Gees, I wish I'd stop overcomplicating everything.

Teresa

sbic56, BSN, RN · Jan 18, 2004

I had to do some research to get back up to speed on that stuff! Interesting process. I think this site explains alot quite well. Hope it helps!

http://www.library.uq.edu.au/library.uq/gmc/images/gmc020.pdf

nursethings · Jan 18, 2004

When meds are protein bound they are not doing anything. It is the amount not bound or free drug that has an effect . So if two highly protein bound drugs are prescribed lower dosages would be needed. Also a consideration with protein binding is the patient's serum protein. If their plasma proteins are low (albumin, the most common to look at) they will have more free drug as there is less protein to bind to.

wonderbee, BSN, RN · Jan 19, 2004

That's right. The free amount is the amount that is available (bioavailable) to get the job done that it was intended to do. The bound amount is just sort of hanging around ready to be excreted or released from its protein-bound state by another drug.

The way I understand it, the danger of the drug-drug interaction is from the unintended release of the protein-bound amount that could cause toxicity.

nursethings · Jan 19, 2004

That's true and also when you have two drugs that both expected to have a certain amount of protein binding, they are competing and one or both will end up with more free drug than expected thus more of an action.