Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamic aspects of pharmacology

Case studies are a useful way for you to apply your knowledge of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamic aspects of pharmacology to specific patient cases and health histories.
For this Assignment, you evaluate drug treatment plans for patients with various disorders and justify drug therapy plans based on patient history and diagnosis.
Please use the following Case Studies to complete your Assignment for this week.
Directions: For each of the scenarios below, answer the questions below using your required learning resources, clinical practice guidelines, and medscape. Explain the problem and explain how you would address the problem. When recommending medications, write out a complete prescription for each medication. What order would you send to a pharmacy? Include drug, dose, route, frequency, special instructions, # dispensed (days supply), refills, etc. Also state if you would continue, discontinue or taper the patient’s current medications. Use at least 3 sources for each scenario and cite sources using APA format.
SCENARIO 1
RT is a 34-year-old pregnant female at 20 weeks gestation. She presents to the clinic with painful urination, increased urge to urinate, and fatigue. A urine dipstick test is positive for a UTI and she is started on doxycycline 100 mg po BID x 7 days. Current medications include labetalol 100 mg po BID, fluoxetine 20 mg po daily, and valacyclovir 500 mg po daily. She has no drug allergies. Labs include Hgb 12.5, HCT 37%, K 3.9, glucose 78, BUN 9, Cr 0.7 Her blood pressure is 130/75 mmHg. What treatment plan would you implement for RT (include complete medication order)? What patient education would you provide and how would you monitor drug therapy? Do pregnant patients have increased or decreased blood plasma volume?
SCENARIO 2
GP is a 21-year-old female presenting with thick white, odorless vaginal discharge and itching for 3 days. She is sexually active and has had unprotected sex with a new male partner for the last month. Current medications include ethinyl estradiol/norgestrel 30 mcg/0.3 mg po daily and alprazolam 2 mg po TID prn. This patient is allergic to sulfa drugs. What medication would you prescribe for this patient (include complete medication order)? How long should GP abstain from sexual activity? What patient education would you provide? What possible drug interactions exist?
SCENARIO 3
LW is a 66-year-old male seen in the clinic today. He presents with extreme fatigue, brain fog, minor sore throat and temperature of 100.8. He reports that symptoms began two days ago with a sore throat and have progressively worsened. He also mentions loss of appetite. Oxygen sat 96%, respiratory rate 18, bp 130/80. His rapid COVID-19 antigen test is positive. Chest x-ray is clear, no signs of pneumonia. What treatment plan would you implement for LW (include complete medication order)? What education would you provide? Discuss one potential drug interaction and how you would manage it.
SCENARIO 4
FS is a 35-year-old female trying to conceive with a medical history of PCOS. Her labs today show a MCV 77, MCHC 26, Ferritin 9, TIBC 415, BG 90 mg/dL, A1C 5% Current medications include metformin 500 mg po BID and a B vitamin complex. What treatment plan would you implement for FS? Why is this patient on metformin? How would you monitor this patient’s response to the medication? What patient education would you provide?

To Prepare:

Review the case study posted in “Announcements” by your Instructor for this Assignment
Review the information provided and answer questions posed in the case study
When recommending a medication, write out a complete prescription for the medication
Whenever possible, use clinical practice guidelines in developing your answers when possible
Include at least three references to support your answer and cite them in APA format.

Scenario 1: Appropriate medication is prescribed or changed. Rationale provided and includes current literature to support decision. All aspects of the patient history are considered in making the medication selection.
• Medication selected is appropriate and considers all of the unique patient characteristics. Rationale for selection is clear, complete, and appropriate.
Scenario 1: Written medication orders include all 5 aspects required for a valid order. The order is complete, accurate, and appropriate.
• Written medication orders includes all 5 aspects required for a valid order. The order is complete, accurate, and appropriate.
Scenario 1: References for the scenario are within past 5 years and include the appropriate clinical practice guideline if applicable.
• References for the scenario are within past 5 years and include the appropriate clinical practice guideline if applicable. Correct APA format is used.

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Sample Answer

 

 

 

 

This is for informational purposes only. For medical advice or diagnosis, consult a professional.

Scenario 1: RT – Pregnant Female with UTI

  • Problem:

    • RT, a 34-year-old pregnant female at 20 weeks gestation, presents with symptoms of a urinary tract infection (UTI): painful urination, increased urinary frequency, and fatigue.
    • Safety Concern: Doxycycline is contraindicated in pregnancy due to its potential for fetal skeletal abnormalities.  
  • Treatment Plan:

    • Nitrofurantoin Macrocrystals 100 mg PO BID x 7 days.

Full Answer Section

 

 

 

 

    • Order: Nitrofurantoin Macrocrystals 100 mg, 1 capsule, by mouth, twice daily, for 7 days.
    • Dispense: 14 capsules.
    • Refills: 0
    • Instructions: Take with food or milk to minimize GI upset. Complete the full course of antibiotics even if symptoms improve. Contact your doctor immediately if you experience fever, chills, back pain, or worsening symptoms.
  • Patient Education:

    • Explain the importance of completing the full course of antibiotics to ensure complete eradication of the infection.
    • Instruct the patient to increase fluid intake to help flush bacteria from the urinary tract.
    • Advise the patient to avoid caffeine and alcohol, which can irritate the bladder.
    • Emphasize the importance of proper hygiene, including wiping from front to back after urination.
    • Inform the patient about the potential side effects of nitrofurantoin, such as nausea, vomiting, and headache.
  • Monitoring:

    • Schedule a follow-up appointment to assess treatment response and ensure complete resolution of the infection.
    • Monitor for any signs of adverse reactions to the medication.
  • Pharmacokinetic Considerations:

    • Increased Blood Plasma Volume in Pregnancy: Pregnant women experience a significant increase in blood plasma volume. This may affect drug distribution and require dose adjustments for some medications. However, nitrofurantoin dosage adjustments are not typically necessary in pregnancy.  
  • References:

    • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2023). Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) in Pregnancy. Retrieved from https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/115866
    • Gibbs, R. S., Habbick, B., Scholes, D., & Witten, M. J. (2015). Management of uncomplicated urinary tract infection in adults and children. BMJ, 350, g7692.
    • Tintinalli, J. E., Stapczynski, J. S., Ma, O., Cline, D. M., & Meckler, G. D. (2024). Tintinalli’s emergency medicine: A comprehensive study guide. McGraw-Hill Education.

Scenario 2: GP – 21-year-old Female with Vaginal Discharge

  • Problem:

    • GP, a 21-year-old sexually active female, presents with symptoms suggestive of vulvovaginal candidiasis (yeast infection): thick white, odorless vaginal discharge and itching.
    • Safety Concern: Oral fluconazole is contraindicated in pregnancy.
  • Treatment Plan:

    • Clotrimazole vaginal cream 1% one applicator intravaginally at bedtime for 7 days.
    • Order: Clotrimazole vaginal cream 1%, one applicator intravaginally at bedtime, for 7 days.
    • Dispense: 1 tube of 7 applicators.
    • Refills: 0
    • Instructions:
      • Apply the cream at bedtime for 7 consecutive days, even if symptoms improve.
      • Avoid douching, which can disrupt the normal vaginal flora.  
      • Wear loose-fitting cotton underwear.
      • Abstain from sexual intercourse during treatment.
      • Inform her partner about the infection and recommend that he be treated for any symptoms.
  • Patient Education:

    • Explain the importance of completing the full course of treatment to prevent recurrence.
    • Discuss risk factors for recurrent yeast infections, such as diabetes, pregnancy, and certain medications.
    • Advise her to contact her doctor if symptoms worsen, if she experiences fever, or if she develops any signs of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).
  • Possible Drug Interactions:

    • Ethinyl estradiol/norgestrel (birth control): Oral contraceptives can increase the risk of yeast infections.  
    • Management: Monitor for breakthrough bleeding or spotting. Consider adjusting the contraceptive regimen if yeast infections become recurrent.
  • References:

    • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2023). Vaginitis. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/std/treatment-guidelines/vaginal-discharge.htm
    • Sobel, J. D. (2016). Vulvovaginal candidiasis. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 62(Supplement_4), S203-S208.
    • Tintinalli, J. E., Stapczynski, J. S., Ma, O., Cline, D. M., & Meckler, G. D. (2024). Tintinalli’s emergency medicine: A comprehensive study guide. McGraw-Hill Education.

Scenario 3: LW – 66-year-old Male with COVID-19

  • Problem:

    • LW, a 66-year-old male, presents with mild COVID-19 infection.
  • Treatment Plan:

    • Supportive care:
      • Rest
      • Adequate hydration (oral fluids)
      • Over-the-counter medications for fever and pain relief (e.g., acetaminophen 500 mg PO every 4-6 hours as needed, maximum 4 grams per day)
    • Monitoring:
      • Closely monitor for worsening symptoms, such as shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, chest pain, or confusion

 

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