Chapter 16: General Pharmacology

Question 1

Pharmacology

Answer 1

the study of drugs, their sources, characteristics, and effects

Question 2

6 medications you will be able to administer or assist with in the field

Answer 2

• aspirin
• oral glucose
• prescribed bronchodilator inhalers
• nitroglycerin
• epinephrine auto-injectors
• activated charcoal/naloxone

Question 3

Aspirin

Answer 3

a medication used to reduce the clotting ability of blood to prevent and treat clots associated with myocardial infarction

Question 4

Oral Glucose

Answer 4

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

Question 5

Oxygen

Answer 5

• 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

Question 6

Activated Charcoal

Answer 6

• 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

Question 7

Inhaler

Answer 7

a spray device with a mouthpiece that contains an aerosol form of a medication that a pt can spray into his airway

Question 8

Nitroglycerin

Answer 8

a drug that helps to dilate the coronary vessels that supply the heart muscle with blood

Question 9

Epinephrine

Answer 9

a drug that helps to constrict the blood vessels and relax passages of the airway; may be used to counter a severe allergic reaction

Question 10

Atomizer

Answer 10

a device attached to the end of a syringe that atomizes medication (turns it into very fine droplets)

Question 11

Naloxone

Answer 11

an antidote for narcotic overdoses; injected or used as nasal spray

Question 12

Force protection medications

Answer 12

• 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

Question 13

How many names does each drug actually have?

Answer 13

• 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

Question 14

Indications

Answer 14

• 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

Question 15

Contraindications

Answer 15

• 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

Question 16

Side effect

Answer 16

• any action of a drug other than the desired action

- ex. drop in bp from nitro

Question 17

Untoward effect

Answer 17

• an effect of a medication in addition to its desired effect that may be potentially harmful to the pt

Question 18

Parenteral

Answer 18

• 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

Question 19

Enteral

Answer 19

referring to a route of medication administration that uses the gastrointestinal tract, such as swallowing a pill

Question 20

Off-line medical direction

Answer 20

not actually speak to a physician to ask permission; use standing orders, which are orders in the form of protocol

Question 21

On-line medical direction

Answer 21

• speak directly to a physician to obtain verbal permission to administer a medication; verbal confirmation required
• listen to the order, repeat the order back

Question 22

Five rights

Answer 22

1. Do I have the right pt?
2. Is it the right time to administer this medication?
3. Is this the right medication?
4. Is this the right dose?
5. Am I giving this medication by the right route of administration?

Question 23

1. Do I have the right pt?

Answer 23

• Does this medication belong to the pt?

- Is this the same pt medical direction approved a medication order for?

Question 24

2. Is it the right time to administer this medication?

Answer 24

• 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?

Question 25

3. Is this the right medication?

Answer 25

• Did I pick up the right bottle?

- Am I sure this is the correct medication?

Question 26

4. Is this the right dose?

Answer 26

• Have I double-checked?

- Am I sure I am giving the correct amount?

Question 27

5. Am I giving this medication by the right route of administration?

Answer 27

oral, injection, nasal, etc.

Question 28

Routes of administration (9)

Answer 28

• Oral, or swallowed
• Sublingual, or dissolved under the tongue
• Inhaled, or breathed into the lungs, usually as tiny aerosol particles (such as from an inhaler) or as a gas (such as oxygen)
• Intranasal, or sprayed into the nostrils
• Intravenous, or injected into a vein
• Intramuscular, or injected into a muscle
• Subcutaneous, or injected under the skin
• Intraosseous, or injected into the bone marrow cavity
• Endotracheal, or sprayed directly into a tube inserted into the trachea

Question 29

Pharmacodynamics

Answer 29

the study of the effects of medications on the body

Question 30

Good documentation includes:

Answer 30

• the name of the medication
• the dose of the medication
• the route of administration of the medication
• time of administration
• any effects noted

Question 31

Analgesics

Answer 31

drugs prescribed for pain relief

Question 32

Antidysrhythmics

Answer 32

drugs prescribed for heart rhythm disorders

Question 33

Anticonvulsants

Answer 33

drugs prescribed for prevention and control of seizures

Question 34

Antihypertensives

Answer 34

drugs prescribed to reduce high blood pressure

Question 35

Bronchodilators

Answer 35

drugs that relax the smooth muscles of the bronchial tubes; these meds provide relief of bronchial, asthma, and allergies affecting the respiratory system

Question 36

Antidiabetic agents

Answer 36

drugs prescribed to diabetic pts to control hyperglycemia

Question 37

Antidepressant agents

Answer 37

drugs prescribed to help regulate the emotional activity of the pt to minimize the peaks and valleys in their psychological and emotional states