Antihistamines, decongestants, antitussives, expectorants

Question 1

What causes the common cold, and how does it cause this infection?

Answer 1

A viral infection normally causes the cold and occurs when the virus infects the mucosa of the upper respiratory tract

Question 2

What causes excess mucous in the lungs and cold symptoms

Answer 2

Excess mucous is caused by the body having an inflammatory response to the invasion, and cold symptoms stem from fluid going down toward the pharynx and into the esophagus

Question 3

What 2 things happens when nasal mucosa is irritated?

Answer 3

Triggering the sneeze reflec and release inflamatory and vasoactive things that dialate the blood vessels in nasal sinuses causing nasal congestion

Question 4

How do we treat the common cold and what are the types of medications used for it?

Answer 4

We treat the symptoms and not the pathogen. We use antihistamines, decongestants, exporants and antitussives

Question 5

What are other cold treatments, and what type of drug therapy is this considered?

Answer 5

We may use antivirals or antibacterial drugs, which are empirical therapy and are only used if we are sure there is virus or bacteria

Question 6

What are examples of antihistamine drugs and their mechanism of action?

Answer 6

Loratadine and diphenhydramine. They are histamine antagonists, so bind to histamine receptors, prevent further secretion of histamines, affect secretion of lacrimal salivary and respiratory mucous glands

Question 7

What are antihistamines used to treat?

Answer 7

Rhinitis, anaphylaxis, angioedema, drug fevers, vertigo, insomnia, cough

Question 8

What are the contraindications for antihistamines, and what population should we avoid giving them to?

Answer 8

Narrow-angle glaucoma, heart disease, hypertension, COPD, pregnancy, and loratadine should not be given to kids under 2 years

Question 9

What are the adverse effects of antihistamines

Answer 9

drowsiness, drying effects (dry mouth, difficulty urinating, constipation, change in vision)

Question 10

What are the symptoms of nasal congestion, and what causes it?

Answer 10

Excessive nasal secretions, inflamed and swollen nasal mucosa. The causes are allergies and upper respiratory tract infection

Question 11

What are the three groups of decongestants?

Answer 11

Adrenergics, anticholinergics, and corticosteroids

Question 12

What are examples of adrenergic drugs?

Answer 12

Pseudoephedrine oral (sudafed), oxymetazoline HCL (dristan)nasal spray

Question 13

What is an example of anticholinergics drugs?

Answer 13

Ipratropium bromide (atrovent) nasal spray

Question 14

What are the three examples of corticosteroids?

Answer 14

Fluticasone propionate (flonase), beclomethasone dipropionate, budesonide

Question 15

What is the mechanism of action for adrenergics

Answer 15

It constricts small arterioles to reduce swelling and allow secretion drainage

Question 16

What is the mechanism of action for corticosteroids?

Answer 16

Targets inflammatory response and turns off the cell response

Question 17

What is the MOA of anticholinergics?

Answer 17

It inhibits the secretions of serous and serous mucous membranes of the nasal passage

Question 18

What is the mOA of antitussives and what is the opioid and non opioid example?

Answer 18

It inhibits the cough reflex which prevents harm for people who had surgery, reduces respiratory distress non-productive dry cough situations. The opioid example is codeine phosphate and non-opioid is dextromethorphan hydrobromide

Question 19

What are the MOA for opioid and non oioid antitussives?

Answer 19

Tey both suppress coughing reflex and have a drying effect while opioid provides analgesia

Question 20

What is the MOA of expectorants and what is the main example?

Answer 20

They help with expectoration(coghing and spitting out) of mucous in UR tract. The main example is guaifenesin

Question 21

What are the two different MOAs for expectorants?

Answer 21

There is reflex stimulation which is when the drug irritates the GI tract causing loosening and thinning of the mucous. The other is stimulating the secretory glands within the respiratory tract that unstick the mucous.

Question 22

What patients do we give expectorants to with caution?

Answer 22

Older adults and patients with asthma

Question 23

What are the contraindications for adrenergic

Answer 23

Narrow-angle glaucoma, diabetes,