Post a description of the patient case from your experiences, observations, and/or clinical practice from the last 5 years. Then, describe factors that might have influenced the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic processes of the patient you identified. Finally, explain details of the personalized plan of care that you would develop based on influencing factors and patient history in your case. Be specific and provide examples. BY DAY 6 OF WEEK 1 Read a selection of your colleagues’ responses and respond to at least two of your colleagues on two different days by suggesting additional patient factors that might have interfered with the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic processes of the patients they described. In addition, suggest how the personalized plan of care might change if the age of the patient were different and/or if the patient had a comorbid condition, such as renal failure, heart failure, or liver failure.
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Navigating Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic Factors in Patient Care- A Case-Based Approach
Patient Case
During my clinical experience, I attended to a 65-year-old female patient diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and hypertension. The patient was put on oral metformin to control the blood glucose level and lisinopril for blood pressure management. Even though the patient adhered strictly to the medication prescribed, the blood glucose level and blood pressure were still high.
Factors Influencing Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic Processes
Different factors affecting the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic processes in this particular patient include age, comorbid conditions, and genetic factors. First, age-related factors like impaired renal function may affect the excretion and metabolism of lisinopril and metformin drugs (Ernstmeyer & Christman, 2023). Also, decreased blood flow to GIT tissues and altered gastric pH due to the patient’s age may affect the absorption of the drugs. Secondly, comorbid factors, such as diabetes in this particular patient, may affect the absorption of medications and their distribution all around the body. Lastly, genetic factors like differences in the drug-transporting proteins and drug-metabolizing enzymes may directly contribute to how patients respond to medications (Ernstmeyer & Christman, 2023).
Personalized Plan of Care
A personalized care plan is required to address the influencing factors, including renal function monitoring by conducting laboratory tests regularly. The medication dosages are changed depending on the patient’s tolerability and response. Also, the patient is educated on dietary change, lifestyle modifications, and the importance of strictly adhering to the medication (Onetto & Sharif, 2023). Drug metabolism variations are tested genetically to tailor medication regimens. Furthermore, side effects of the medications are closely monitored and are managed by patient education and follow-up visits. As Onetto and Sharif (2023) note, regular glucose and blood pressure monitoring and the integration of a dietitian and diabetes educator in the plan of care are key in personalizing the care plan.
References
Ernstmeyer, K., & Christman, E. (2023). Chapter 1 Pharmacokinetics & Pharmacodynamics. Nursing Pharmacology – NCBI Bookshelf; Chippewa Valley Technical College. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK595006/