Albania Pharmacist Certification Exam (Provimi i Certifikimit) flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Lipinski rule of five

A set of criteria predicting oral bioavailability: molecular weight ≤ 500, logP ≤ 5, hydrogen-bond donors ≤ 5, and hydrogen-bond acceptors ≤ 10.

Prodrug

An inactive chemical derivative that is converted in the body to the active drug, often to improve absorption, stability, or targeting.

Bioisostere

A group with similar physical and chemical properties to another that can replace it in a molecule while retaining biological activity.

First-pass metabolism

Presystemic metabolism of an orally administered drug in the gut wall and liver before it reaches systemic circulation, reducing oral bioavailability.

Bioavailability (F)

The fraction of an administered dose that reaches systemic circulation unchanged, calculated from the ratio of oral to intravenous AUC corrected for dose.

HLB value

Hydrophilic–lipophilic balance of a surfactant; values of 8–18 favor oil-in-water emulsions, while 3–6 favor water-in-oil emulsions.

Zero-order release

Drug release at a constant rate independent of remaining drug concentration, typical of osmotic pumps and some matrix systems.

Therapeutic index

The ratio of the toxic dose to the effective dose (TD50/ED50); a low value indicates a narrow safety margin requiring monitoring.

Competitive antagonist

A drug that binds reversibly at the same receptor site as the agonist, shifting the dose–response curve right without lowering maximal response.

Volume of distribution

The apparent volume relating the amount of drug in the body to its plasma concentration; calculated as dose divided by initial concentration.

Loading dose

An initial larger dose calculated as volume of distribution times target concentration divided by bioavailability, used to reach therapeutic levels rapidly.

Alkaloids

Basic nitrogen-containing plant secondary metabolites such as morphine, quinine, and atropine, often with potent pharmacological activity.

Cardiac glycosides

Plant compounds such as digoxin with a steroid aglycone and sugar moiety that inhibit sodium–potassium ATPase and increase cardiac contractility.

Standardized extract

A plant preparation adjusted so that the content of a specified marker compound falls within a defined range for batch consistency.

St. John's wort interaction

Hypericum perforatum induces cytochrome P450 3A4 and P-glycoprotein, lowering concentrations of oral contraceptives, warfarin, and ciclosporin.

N-acetylcysteine antidote

The treatment for paracetamol overdose; it replenishes glutathione and detoxifies the reactive metabolite NAPQI in the liver.

Organophosphate poisoning

Irreversible acetylcholinesterase inhibition causing cholinergic excess; treated with atropine plus pralidoxime before enzyme aging occurs.

Fomepizole

An alcohol dehydrogenase inhibitor used as antidote in methanol and ethylene glycol poisoning to prevent formation of toxic metabolites.

Activated charcoal

An adsorbent given within about one hour of ingestion to reduce absorption of many poisons; ineffective for iron, lithium, and alcohols.

Medication reconciliation

A formal process comparing a patient's prior medication list with current orders at admission, transfer, and discharge to prevent errors.

Naranjo algorithm

A validated scale scoring temporal relationship, dechallenge, rechallenge, and alternative causes to estimate the probability of an adverse drug reaction.

Therapeutic drug monitoring

Measurement of plasma drug concentrations for narrow-therapeutic-index drugs to individualize dosing and avoid toxicity or treatment failure.

SOAP note

A structured clinical documentation format comprising Subjective, Objective, Assessment, and Plan sections for each identified problem.

Pharmacovigilance

The science of detecting, assessing, understanding, and preventing adverse effects or other drug-related problems after marketing authorization.

Good Distribution Practice

Quality standards ensuring medicinal products are stored, transported, and handled under appropriate conditions with full traceability throughout the supply chain.

Incremental cost-effectiveness ratio

The difference in cost between two interventions divided by the difference in health effect; compared against a willingness-to-pay threshold.

Quality-adjusted life year

A health outcome measure combining length of life with quality of life, calculated as life expectancy multiplied by a utility weight from 0 to 1.

Break-even point

The sales volume at which total revenue equals total cost, calculated as fixed costs divided by the unit contribution margin.

Sodium-potassium ATPase

A membrane pump moving three sodium ions out and two potassium ions in per ATP hydrolyzed, maintaining the resting membrane potential.

Glycolysis ATP yield

The anaerobic conversion of one glucose to two pyruvate molecules, producing a net of two ATP and two NADH.

Gram staining principle

Gram-positive bacteria retain crystal violet due to a thick peptidoglycan layer and appear purple; Gram-negative bacteria appear pink after counterstaining.

Autoclave sterilization

Moist heat sterilization at 121 degrees Celsius and 15 psi for about 15 minutes, which kills all microorganisms including bacterial spores.