Cardiology Lecture 2 Flashcards
pharmacology
the science of drugs
a medication is a substance used to:
- prevent or treat disease
- relieve pain
pharmacodynamics
a process by which medication works on the body
agonist
causes stimulation of receptors
antagonist
binds to a receptor and blocks other medications or chemicals
dose
amount of medication given
action
the therapeutic effect that a medication is expected to have on the body
pharmacokinetics
actions of the body upon the medication or chemical:
* onset
* duration
* elimination
* peak
factors affecting how medication works
- route of administration
- shock states
contraindications
harmful effects
unintended effects
undesireable but little risk to the patient
indications
reasons or conditions
untoward effects
harmful to the patient
medication names
- generic names
- trade name
- scientific name
enteral medications
enter the body through the digestive system
* oral, sublingual
parenteral medications
enter the body by some other means
* intravenous, inhalation, intramuscular
rate of sublingual
rapid
rate of mouth
slow
rate of inhalation
rapid
rate of intranasal
rapid
rate of intramuscular
moderate
capsules
gelatin shells filled with podered or liquid medication
tablets
contain other materials that are mixed with the medication and compressed
suspension
a substance that does not dissolve well in liquids and will separate if it stands or is filtered
solution
a liquid mixture of substances that will not separate by filtering or letting it stand
* injected as IV, IM, or SC injection
metered-dose inhalers
liquids or solids broken into small enough droplets or particles
topical medications
applied to skin surface and affects only that area
* calamine lotion
* hydrocortisone cream
* neosporin ointment
transcutaneous medications
absorbed through the skin (transdermal)
gels
semiliquid and administered in capsules or through plastic tubes
* oral glucose for diabetics
route for gases
delivered through a non-rebreathing mask or nasal cannula
general steps in administering medication
- administered only under authorization of medical control
- follow rights
rights in administering medication
- right patient
- right drug
- right dose
- right route
- right time
- right documentation
peer-assisted administration
administered with partner
patient-assisted administration
administered with patient
EMT-administered medications
administered by the EMT
steps to reporting an error
- provide appropriate care
- notify medical control
- follow protocols
- document thoroughly
- talk with your partner, supervisor, or medical director
aspirin
- action: prevents platelets from clumping, thereby decreasing formation of new clots or increasing current clots
- indications: chest pain of cardiac arrest
- contraindications: hypersensitivity, recent stomach bleeding
- side effects: nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, bleeding
nitrglycerin
- action: dilates blood vessels leading to vasodilation thus reducing myocardial oxygen demand
- indication: chest pain of cardiac origin
- contraindications: systolic pressure below 100 mmHg, phosphodiesterase inhibitors like Viagra used within 24 hours
- side effects: headache, hypotension, nausea
