A Patient Who Has Received an Oral Medication for Treatment

A patient who has received an oral medication for treatment of hives says, "How long will it be before my skin clears and quits itching?" Which concepts should the nurse consider when formulating a response?

A) The amount of time between administration and the drug taking effect is known as onset of action.
B) Peak plasma levels rarely occur with oral medications.
C) Duration of action is the amount of time a drug is effective.
D) Peak plasma level is dependent on the drug's plasma half-life (t_1/2) _.
E) Drugs with short half-lives are ineffective in treating systemic illnesses.