Chapter 16: General Pharmacology Flashcards
Pharmacology
the study of drugs, their sources, characteristics, and effects
6 medications you will be able to administer or assist with in the field
- aspirin
- oral glucose
- prescribed bronchodilator inhalers
- nitroglycerin
- epinephrine auto-injectors
- activated charcoal/naloxone
Aspirin
a medication used to reduce the clotting ability of blood to prevent and treat clots associated with myocardial infarction
Oral Glucose
a form of glucose (a kind of sugar) given by mouth to treat an awake patient (who is able to swallow) with an altered mental status and a history of diabetes
Oxygen
- a gas commonly found in the atmosphere
- pure O2 is used as a drug to treat any pt whose medical or traumatic condition may cause him to be hypoxic, or low in O2
Activated Charcoal
- a powder prepared from charred wood, usually premixed with water to treat poisoning or overdose.
- absorb some poisons (bind them to the surfaces of the charcoal) and help prevent them from being absorbed by the body
Inhaler
a spray device with a mouthpiece that contains an aerosol form of a medication that a pt can spray into his airway
Nitroglycerin
a drug that helps to dilate the coronary vessels that supply the heart muscle with blood
Epinephrine
a drug that helps to constrict the blood vessels and relax passages of the airway; may be used to counter a severe allergic reaction
Atomizer
a device attached to the end of a syringe that atomizes medication (turns it into very fine droplets)
Naloxone
an antidote for narcotic overdoses; injected or used as nasal spray
Force protection medications
- administer these medications to yourself and your partner if you found yourself exposed to certain weapons of mass destruction such as nerve gas
- ex. atropine in auto-injector form to treat responders in the event of a chemical weapons attack
How many names does each drug actually have?
- at least 3; chemical name, generic name, and one or more trade (brand) names
- ex. epinephrine is a generic drug name, chemical name is B-(3,4 dihydroxyphenyl)-a-methylaminoethanol, trade name is Epi-pen
Indications
- specific signs or circumstances under which it is appropriate to administer a drug to a pt
- ex. nitro is indicated when a pt has chest pain or squeezing, dull pressure
Contraindications
- specific signs or circumstances under which it is not appropriate and may be harmful to administer a drug to a pt
- ex. nitro is contraindicated if the ptas low blood pressure b/c nitro, in dilating the blood vessels, causes a slight drop in the systolic blood pressure
Side effect
- any action of a drug other than the desired action
- ex. drop in bp from nitro
Untoward effect
- an effect of a medication in addition to its desired effect that may be potentially harmful to the pt
Parenteral
- referring to a route of medication administration that does not use the gastrointestinal tract, such as an intravenous medication
- ex. epinephrine from an auto-injector
Enteral
referring to a route of medication administration that uses the gastrointestinal tract, such as swallowing a pill
Off-line medical direction
not actually speak to a physician to ask permission; use standing orders, which are orders in the form of protocol
On-line medical direction
- speak directly to a physician to obtain verbal permission to administer a medication; verbal confirmation required
- listen to the order, repeat the order back
Five rights
- Do I have the right pt?
- Is it the right time to administer this medication?
- Is this the right medication?
- Is this the right dose?
- Am I giving this medication by the right route of administration?
- Do I have the right pt?
- Does this medication belong to the pt?
- Is this the same pt medical direction approved a medication order for?
- Is it the right time to administer this medication?
- Have I made the right decision to administer the medication based on what I am seeing?
- Is it appropriate under these circumstances to give this particular medication?
