Clinical meaning
Medications work by interacting with the body to change how it functions. Most drugs work by attaching to specific spots on cells called receptors — like a key fitting into a lock. When a drug attaches to its receptor, it can either turn on a response (like opening a locked door) or block a response (like putting the wrong key in so the right key cannot fit). Every medication has a therapeutic effect (the desired effect) and potential side effects (unwanted effects). Nurses need to understand onset (when the drug starts working), peak (when it has maximum effect), and duration (how long it lasts) to properly monitor patients and time assessments.