PHARMACOLOGY Lecture 2: Concept Application of Module 2
12 Jan 2022
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Document Summary
The nurse is caring for ep, a patient who was admitted to the hospital with new onset of seizures. Ep has been taking warfarin (coumadin), a highly protein-bound drug that decreases blood clotting. The neurologist has ordered valproic acid (depakote), an anti- seizure medication. Warfarin is a highly protein-bound drug (99%) that interferes with hepatic synthesis of vitamin k dependent clotting factors, resulting in depletion of coagulation factors (decrease blood clotting). It has a long half-time about 20-60 hours. While valproic acid has 80%-90% protein binding which is a highly protein-bound drug. It have a long half- time about 9-16 hours. Since these two drug are both highly protein-bound drugs, they will compete for protein-binding sites, therefore causing more free drug to be released into the circulation. Large quantity of free medicine released gets accumulated that result in drug toxicity.
