DQ: Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics

DQ: Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics

As nurse practitioners, it is important to know and understand the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamic processes. Pharmacokinetics is the process of a drug being absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and excreted from the body (Rosenthal and Burchum, 2021). Pharmacodynamics is the relationship between drug concentration at the site of action and the resulting effects which include the time and severity of therapeutic and adverse effects (DiPiro, 2008).

Lispro Insulin is a rapid-acting insulin that has a short duration of action which is used to improve blood glucose management in patients with diabetes (Rosenthal and Burchum, 2021). It is more effective than the normal human insulin in improving and helping to maintain blood glucose control (Campbell et al., 1996). Factors that might influence the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of insulin are the size of the dose, the injected volume and the insulin concentration, vigorously rubbing the site of the injection, increase in temperature which increases absorption rate, site of the injection (absorption is faster when administered in the abdomen), and exercising of extremity within an hour of injection can speed up absorption (Donner and Sarkar, 2019). The patient received a large dose of insulin for an inaccurate blood glucose reading and presented with a hypoglycemic reaction due to the large amount of insulin that was administered.

A personalized care plan for the patient based on influencing factors and the patients history would be to set goals for the patient that include effective treatments to normalize and manage blood glucose levels, decrease the risk for hypoglycemic or hyperglycemic events using insulin medication, diet, and exercise, informing and educating the patient on the importance of compliance with medication regimen and importance of monitoring blood glucose, providing the patient with prescription savings or discount cards like Good Rx, and providing the patient with location to local community clinics that help with providing low-cost prescription medications.

Ensuring that the patient is properly educated and provided with the necessary resources to provide for his medication will promote his participation in self-care and ensure his compliance with monitoring and maintaining manageable blood glucose levels.

References:

Campbell, R. K., Campbell, L. K., & White, J. R. (1996, November). Insulin lispro: its role in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. The Annals of pharmacotherapy. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8913409/.

Donner, T., & Sarkar, S. (2019). Insulin – Pharmacology, Therapeutic Regimens, and Principles of Intensive Insulin Therapy. Endotext [Internet]. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK278938/.