Ch. 8: Anti-Inflammatory Drugs Flashcards
a drug that prevents or limits tissue and blood vessel responses to injury or invasion
anti-inflammatory drugs
drugs similar to natural cortisol that prevent or limit inflammation by slowing or stopping inflammatory mediator production
corticosteroids
an enzyme important in converting body chemicals to mediators of inflammation
cyclo-oxygenase (COX)
a chemical made by the body that binds to receptor sites and causes inflammatory responses
histamine
invasion of the body by microorganisms that disturb the normal environment and cause harm
infection
a syndrome of tissue and blood vessel responses to injury or invasion
inflammation
a group of chemicals made by the body that cause some of the signs and symptoms of inflammation, especially pain
kinins
a chemical made by the body that binds to its receptors and maintains an inflammatory response
leukotriene
body chemicals such as histamine, leukotriene, prostaglandins, and kinins that cause inflammatory responses
mediators
anti-inflammatory drugs that are not similar to cortisol but prevent or limit tissue and blood vessel responses to injury or invasion by slowing the production of one or more inflammatory mediators
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
a family of chemicals made by the body, some of which cause the signs and symptoms of inflammation
prostaglandins
drugs that reduce inflammation by preventing the inflammatory mediator histamine from binding to its receptor site; same as histamine blockers or histamine antagonists
antihistamine
the most powerful of all the drugs used for inflammation
corticosteroids
how do corticosteroids work?
by slowing or stopping all known pathways of inflammatory mediator production
what are the types of drugs for inflammation?
corticosteroids, NSAIDs, antihistamines, leukotriene inhibitors
in which ways can corticosteroids be taken?
orally or parenterally, by inhalation for asthma and other inflammatory problems of the airways, topically for skin problems, injected into joints, rectally for hemorrhoids, in drops for eye problems
why are corticosteroids prescribed for only a short period of time?
because they have many side effects and adverse effects
how do systemic corticosteroids work?
by decreasing the production of all known body chemicals (mediators) that trigger inflammation. they also slow the production of WBCs in the bone marrow because these are the source of mediators that trigger inflammation
what are the intended responses of corticosteroids
swelling at the site of inflammation is reduced, redness and pain at site of inflammation reduced, the body area affected by inflammation demonstrates increased function
what are common side effects of systemic corticosteroids after 1 week?
acne, sodium and fluid retention, elevated blood pressure, sensation of nervousness, difficulty sleeping, emotional changes, crying easily
what are the common side effects of systemic corticosteroids after one month of therapy
weight gain, fat redistribution, increased risk for GI ulcers and bleeding, fragile skin that bruises easy, loss of muscle mass and strength, thinning scalp hair, increased facial and body hair, increased susceptibility to colds and other infections, stretch marks
when do most side effects of corticosteroids show up?
within 5-7 days of treatment and stop after therapy stops, although it may take a year or longer (with the exception of stretch marks, which may fade)
what are some important adverse effects of corticosteroids?
adrenal glad suppression, reduced immune function, delayed wound healing, osteoporosis, myopathy, psychological disturbances and glucointolerance - these are why corticosteroids are only taken after all other anti-inflammatories have been shown not to work
why do corticosteroids cause adrenal gland suppression?
how much cortisol is made by the adrenal glands is determined by how much cortisol is already in the blood. if there are more than normal levels of cortisol in the blood, the adrenal glands reduce the production of cortisol. if they have to do this often, they eventually stop producing it and the gland atrophies
why could a person die if they suddenly stop taking systemic corticosteroids if they have taken the drug for a week or longer?
they have no levels of cortisol in the body and cortisol is necessary for life and their adrenal glands have atrophied, so they die from acute adrenal insufficiency.
s/s of acute adrenal insufficiency
acute confusion, profound muscle weakness, slow irregular pulse, hypotension, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, salt craving, weight loss, low blood glucose levels (
why does corticosteroids increase your chance of getting an infection?
because they lower WBC production and inflammatory responses are suppressed, so your body can’t fight the infection as well and when you do get an infection, you don’t notice it. in addition, they have delayed wound healing because inflammation initiates wound healing, so they are more likely to get an infection
are corticosteroids interchangeable?
no, they are not interchangeable because the strength of the drugs vary
what should you do before giving corticosteroids?
check s/s of infection because corticosteroids can make infections worse, check BP and wt to have a baseline because they can cause hypertension and weight gain
what should you do after giving corticosteroids?
check VS at least once per shift, examine skin for bruises or tears, minimize use of tape and be very gentle handling patient, weight the patient weekly to monitor for fluid retention
what should you teach patients about taking corticosteroids?
don’t stop taking suddenly, wear a medical alert bracelet or carry a card stating that you are taking corticosteroids daily, tell them to take corticosteroids in the morning or if they are taking higher doses take 2/3 in the morning and 1/3 at night because this is closer to your body’s normal pattern of secretion, avoids crowds and people who are ill because you have lowered immunity, take with food to help prevent stomach ulcers
why should you never apply a topical corticosteroid to an area of skin that may be infected?
because they lower the immunity in the area that they are applied
do you need a lot of topical corticosteroids to treat an infection?
no, you only need a thin layer
what are the side effects of topical corticosteroid use?
rare, but include: acne, thinning of the skin in areas where they are applied, and changes in skin color
can corticosteroids be taken while pregnant?
yes, even though they do cross the placenta
how can corticosteroids affect the fetus?
they can cause the baby to be smaller than normal
should a breast feeding mother take corticosteroids?
no, because it passes through the breast milk
what considerations should you make with an older adult taking corticosteroids?
may need to take extra precautions to avoid infection, lower strengths of topical corticosteroids because they have thinner skin, they are more likely to have diabetic complications because corticosteroids cause increased blood glucose levels