Chapter 14 - Pharmacology Flashcards
Medication
used as a remedy for illness
Drug
used to treat or prevent a disease or condition
Administration
the EMT will take all the steps to give the patient the medication via an oral, injection, or inhalation route
Assist
the EMT will prepare the medication and then hand it over to the patient who will then proceed to take the medication
Oxygen
- odorless, tasteless, colorless gas
- 21% in atmosphere, administered at 100% concentrations
Oral Glucose
- simple sugar found in the blood
- primary energy source for cells
- administered to patient with history of diabetes or low blood glucose
- signs and symptoms appear rapidly
Activated Charcoal
- fine, black powder
- designed to absorb an ingested poison
Aspirin
- administered to a patient who is having chest pain
- blood thinner
Inhaled Bronchodilator
- causes bronchioles to dilate
- two types are: metered-dose or small-volume nebulizer
Metered-dose Inhaler (MDI)
- prescribed to patients with history of asthma, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis
- beta2-agonist causes bronchioles to dilate (only one permitted to administer)
Small-volume Nebulizer
- route of delivery differs from MDI
- place medication into a specialized chamber and pass Oxygen or compressed air through it to create a fine vapor
- vapor is expelled through T-tube and into mouth-piece/mask
- patient breathes until medication is gone
Nitroglycerin
- used to treat cardiac patients with diseased coronary arteries
- vasodilator (dilates blood vessels)
- side effects: hypotension (low blood pressure)
- contraindications: erectile dysfunction meds
Epinephrine
- used to treat patients suffering from severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis - foreign body, vasodilation, decreasing blood pressure and perfusion, bronchoconstriction, capillaries leak fluid, blood volume decreases)
- epinephrine constricts the vessels, increases blood pressure, dilates the bronchioles, and allows more air into the alveoli, thus reducing capillary leakage
Four names of medications/drugs
- chemical name - 1,2,3-propanetriol trinitrate
- generic name - nitroglycerin tablets
- trade (brand) name - Nitrostat
- official name - nitroglycerin tablets, U.S.P.
Chemical name
- the drug’s chemical structure
- usually first name associated with drug
Generic name
- nonproprietary name
- shorter form of the chemical name
- before officially listed
- independent of manufacturer
Trade name
- the brand name
- when drug is released for commercial distribution
- used by manufacturer to market the drug
Official name
- generic name + U.S.P. or N.F.
Route
- how medication is given/taken by the patient
Sublingual
- under the tongue
- nitroglycerin tabs and spray
Oral
- swallowed
- aspirin, oral glucose, activated charcoal
Inhalation
- prepared as a gas or aerosol
- oxygen, MDI, small-volume nebulizer
Intramuscular injection
- drug injected into muscle mass
- epinephrine (auto-injector)
Forms of Medication
- compressed powder or tablet
- liquid for injection
- gel
- suspension: particles mixed in suitable liquid; must be shaken well because of tendency to separate (activated charcoal)
- fine powder for inhalation: crystalline solid mixed with liquid to form a suspension in the form of mist or aerosol (MDI)
- small volume nebulizer
- gas
- spray
