Antitussives and Expectorants - Module 4 Flashcards
antitussives suppress coughing
by working on the cough center in the brain stem or by anesthetizing the stretch rc in the respiratory tract
Codeine/morphine and hydrocodone
Narcotic cough suppressant are the best antittussive drugs. Any opioid will also be used…heroin…
OTC cough and cold medicine
Dextromethorphan (DM or DXM) is more widely used today. NOT AN OPIOID
Codeine
for many years was the drug most often given to suppress a cough.
Expectorants
reduce the thickness of sputum of sputum so that pt can more easily cough it up
Guaifenesin
is the only expectorant we will study
- derived from the guaiac tree, the resin of which has been used for centuries in cough and cold remedies - must take with water
- pupular OTC cough and cold - Robitussin
vertigo
is a disorder with equilibrium, caused a problem in the inner ear. often it is just a temporary viral infection that cases it. sometimes it can be a sign of more serious inner ear disease
Cerumenex
hydrogen peroxide -H2O2
ear drops to soften ear wax impaction
Drug to treat motion sickness and vertigo
Dramamine - antihistamine
Drug to prevent motion sickness
Scopolamine (Transderm Scop) - a belladonna anticholinergic drug,
Pulmonary diseases
Asthma
COPD = emphyseam - Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
10 people die every day in US due to these disease
drugs use to relax bronchial smooth muscle to treat asthma, emphyseam (COPD) and EIA (exercise induced asthma)
Bronchodilators can be given by mouth or injection or nebulized as liquid or powder
Bronchodialators - sympathetic
Front door
stimulation dilates the bronchioles and relieves asthma
** catecholamines (adrenergic drugs - are “front door” bronchodialators
Bronchodialators - parasympathetic
Back door
stimulation causes bronchoconstriction
** anticholinergics produce effects complimentary to the sympathetic agonists - “back door”
Bronchodialators - Side door
Methylxanthines, through a different mechanism
All the sympathomimetics
stimulate the beta2 adrenergic rc - B2 agonists cause bronchial smooth muscles to relax
Beta1 Rc agonists
cause the heart rate to speed up
Alpha agonist
cause most blood vessels to constrict
“Front-door” sympathomimetic bronchodialators drugs
epinephrine - mixed Beta1, Beta2 and Alpha rc adrenergic agonist. this drug used to treat asthma in 1910.
Ephedrine, amphetamine, cocaine - non-selective sympathetic nervous system “stimulants”
Better bronchodilators drug for everyday use than epinephrine
Albuterol (Proventil, Ventolin) - is the prototypical fast onset, short acting beta2 selective. open the airways w/o stimulating the heart
albuterol
is quick acting and lasts about 4-6 hours used as a “rescue inhaler”
Two of the best long acting beta 2 agonist (LABA)
salmeterol and formoterol - with extended duration of action up to 12 hrs
“Back door” Bronchodilators
Anticholinergics are atropine - like drugs
sympathomimetics
positive simulator of the sympathetic - agonist