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45 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
Define "pharmacology." |
The study of drugs, their sources, characteristics, and effects
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When dealing with the public, what terms should you use instead of "drugs," and why?
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Use "medicines" or "medications." The public often associates the word "drugs" with illegal substances.
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What six medications can an EMT administer in the field?
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1) Activated charcoal
2) Oral glucose 3) Oxygen 4) Prescribed inhalers 5) Nitroglycerin 6) Epinephrine auto-injectors |
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What's activated charcoal?
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Activated charcoal is a powder, usually premixed with water, that will absorb some poisons and help prevent them from being absorbed by the body.
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Define "oral glucose."
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A form of glucose (a kind of sugar) given by mouth to treat an awake patient (who is able to swallow) with an altered mental status and a history of diabetes.
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In what cases might activated charcoal be administered?
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Cases of poisoning and overdose
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How do you administer oral glucose?
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Generally oral glucose comes as a gel that can be applied to a tongue depressor and placed between the patient's cheek and gum or directly under the tongue.
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Define "oxygen."
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A gas commonly found in the atmosphere. Pure oxygen is used as a drug to treat any patient whose medical or traumatic condition may cause him to be hypoxic, or low in oxygen.
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What do prescribed inhalers, nitroglycerin, and epinephrine auto-injectors have in common?
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These are all prescribed medications, and an EMT can assist a patient in taking them if they have a prescription.
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Define "bronchodilator."
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A medication designed to enlarge constricted bronchial tubes, making breathing easier.
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What conditions would result in the prescription of a bronchodilator?
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Asthma, emphysema, chronic bronchitis.
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What are the most commonly found common bronchodilator drugs?
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Albuterol
Ventolin Proventil Volmax |
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What are some common side effects of bronchodilator drugs?
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Increased heart rate, jitteriness
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Define "inhaler."
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A spray device with a mouthpiece that contains an aerosol form of a medication that a patient can spray into his airway.
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Define "nitroglycerin."
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A drug that helps to dilate the coronary vessels that supply the heart muscle with blood.
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What do many people use as a short name for nitroglycerin?
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"nitro."
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What's a common trade name of nitroglycerin?
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Nitrostat.
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What forms can nitroglycerin come in?
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Tablets or a spray
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What common drugs can interact dangerously with nitroglycerin?
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Drugs for the treatment of erectile dysfunction, such as Viagra (sildenafil) and Levitra (vardenafil).
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What is a common side effect of nitroglycerin?
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A drop in blood pressure
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What do you do in the case of a drop in blood pressure after administering nitroglycerin?
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Have the patient lie down and raise his legs, and contact medical direction for advice.
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What is an epinephrine auto-injector used for?
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It's used to reverse life-threatening changes in airway and circulation due to allergic reactions.
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Why must epinephrine be administered very quickly?
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Because severe allergic reactions may reach a life-threatening stage in a very short time.
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What is an epinephrine auto-injector?
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It's a syringe with a spring-loaded needle that will release and inject epinephrine into the muscle when the auto injector is pushed against the thigh.
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What's a common trade name for a one-dose epinephrine auto-injector? How about a trade name for a two-dose epinephrine auto-injector?
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Epi-Pen
Twinject |
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What are common side effects of administering an epinephrine auto-injector?
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Increased heart rate and increased blood pressure.
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What comprehensive US government publication lists every drug and/or medication by its generic name?
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U.S. Pharmacopoeia (USP)
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How many names does every drug have?
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AT LEAST three names: the chemical name, the generic name, and one or more trade names.
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Define "indications."
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Specific signs or circumstances under which it is appropriate to administer a drug to a patient.
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Define "contraindications."
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Specific signs or circumstances under which it is not appropriate and may be harmful to administer a drug to a patient.
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Define "side effect."
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Any action of a drug other than the desired action.
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When is nitroglycerin indicated?
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When a patient has chest pain or squeezing, dull pressure.
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When is nitroglycerin contraindicated (when should it NOT be given)?
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When the patient has low blood pressure.
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What are common forms of medications?
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1) Compressed powders (tablets, such as nitroglycerin)
2) Liquids for injection (epinephrine) 3) Gels (glucose) 4) Suspensions (activated charcoal) 5) Fine powder for inhalation (prescribed inhaler) 6) Gases for inhalation (oxygen) 7) Sublingual sprays (nitroglycerin) 8) Liquid that is vaporized (fixed-dose nebulizer) |
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Before administering any drug to any patient, what must you do?
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First, confirm the order and write it down. Then, check the four rights:
1) Do I have the right patient? 2) Is this the right medication? 3) Is this the right dose? 4) Am I giving this medication by the right route of administration? |
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What routes of administration of a medication are there?
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1) Oral
2) Sublingual 3) Inhaled 4) Intravenous 5) Intramuscular 6) Subcutaneous 7) Endotracheal |
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What must you do after administering medication to a patient?
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Reassess the patient to see how the drug has affected him.
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Name some common analgesics used for pain relief.
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Propoxyphene (Darvon)
Nalbuphine (Nubain) Morphine (Astramorph PF, Duramorph, MS Contin, Roxanol) Acetaminophen (Anacin-3, Panadol, Tempra, Tylenol) Ibuprofen (Actiprofen, Advil, Excedrin IS, Motrin, Novoprofen, Nuprin) Aspirin (Ecotrin, Emprin) Codeine Oxycodone (OxyContin) Naproxen (Naprosyn) Indomethacin (Indocin) |
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Name some common drugs prescribed for heart rhythm disorders (antidysrhythmics)
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Digoxin (Lanoxin)
Propranolol (Inderal) Verapamil (Calan, Calan SR, Isoptin, Isoptin SR, Verelan) Procainamide (Procan SR, Promine, Pronestyl) Disopyramide (Norpace) Carvedilol (Coreg) Metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL) |
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Name some common drugs prescribed for prevention and control of seizures (Anticonvulsants)
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Carbamazepine (Epitol, Tegretol)
Phenytoin (Dilantin) Primidone (Mysoline) Phenobarbital (Phenobarbital, Phenobarbital Sodium, Solfoton) Valproic acid (Depakene) Iamotrigine (Lamictal) Topiramate (Topamax) Ethnosuximide (Zarontin) Gabapentin (Neurontin) |
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Name some common drugs prescribed to reduce high blood pressure (antihypertensives)
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Captopril (Capoten)
Clonidine (Catapres) Guanabenz (Wytensin) Hydralazine (Apresoline, Hydralazine HCL) Hydrocholothiazide (Esidrix, HydroDiuril, Oretic) Methyldopa (Aldomet) Nifedipine (Adalat, Adalat CC, Procardia) Prazosin (Minipress) |
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Name some common drugs that relax the smooth muscles of the bronchial tubes (bronchodilators).
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Albuterol (Proventil, Ventolin, Volmax)
Isoetharine (Bronkometer, Bronkosol) Metaproterenol (Alupent, Metaproterenol Sulfate, Metaprel) Terbutaline (Brethaire, Brethine, Bricanyl) Ipratropium (Atrovent) Salmeterol (Serevent) Albuterol/ipratropium (Combivent, DuoNeb) Montelukast (Singulair) Zafirlukast (Accolate) |
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Name some common drugs prescribed to diabetic patients to control hyperglycemia (Antidiabetic Agents).
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Glipizide (Glucotrol)
Glyburide (DiaBeta, Glynase PresTab, Micronase) Insulin (Humulin, Novolin, NPH, Humalog) Metformin (Glucophage) Glimepiride (Amaryl) |
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Name some common antidepressant agents.
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Amitriptyline (Elavil)
Amoxapine Buproprion (Wellbutrin) Clomipramine (Anafranil) Venlafaxine (Effexor) Escitalopram (Lexapro) Fluoxetine (Prozac) Imipramine (Tofranil, Tripamine) Nefazodone (Serzone) Nortriptyline (Aventyl, Pamelor) Paroxetine (Paxil) Protriptyline (Vivactil) Sertaline (Zoloft) Trimipramine (Surmontil) Citalopram (Celexa) |
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Name some common herbal agents and what they are used for.
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Gingko or Gingkobiloba -- used for dementia, poor leg circulation, ringing in ears.
St. John's Wort -- used for depression Echinacea -- used for prevention and treatment of common cold Garlic -- used for high cholesterol Ginger root -- used for nausea and vomiting Saw palmetto -- used for swollen prostate Hawthorn leaf or flower -- used for heart failure Evening primrose oil -- used for PMS Feverfew leaf -- used for migraine prevention Kava kava -- used for anxiety Valerian root -- used for insomnia |