Chapter 18 Common Drugs and Their Uses

Question 1

Analgesics- create a state in which the pain from a painful medical condition is reduced or not felt

Answer 1

Salicylates- relieve mild to moderate pain; anti-inflammatory; anti-pyretic
NSAIDs- more potent than Salicylates; relieves mild to moderate pain; anti-inflammatory; anti-pyretic
non-aspirin, non-NSAIDS (Acetaminophen) - relieves mild to moderate pain; ant-pyretic
Opiates- for severe pain; addicting

Question 2

Anesthetic Agents- cause an absence of sensation of pain

Answer 2

Local- block pain conduction to the CNS, but do not affect the CNS so patient stays conscious
General- block pain sensation by suppressing the CNS, causing unconsciousness

Question 3

Anti-infectives- treat disease produced by microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, and parasitic worms

Answer 3

Antibiotics (antimicrobials)
Antivirals
Antifungals
Antimycobacterials
Antiprotozoals
Anthelmintics

Question 4

Antineoplastics- inhibit the new growth of cancer cells or neoplasms

Answer 4

Antimetabolites
Alkylating Agents
Plant alkaloids
Hormones
Anti-tumor antibiotics
Radioactive isotopes

Question 5

Cardiovascular Agents

Answer 5

Beta blockers
Calcium channel blockers
Diuretics
ACE inhibitors
Vasodilators
Antianginals
Antiarrhytmics
Antihyperlipidemics
Antihypertensives
Thrombolytics/ Anticoagulants
Vasopressors

Question 6

Dermatologicals- refers to a drug used to treat a condition or disease related to the skin

Answer 6

Conditions treated:
trauma (burns, cuts, abrasions, bruises)
fluid accumulation (edema, cellulite, blisters)
discoloration and pigmentation, rashes, freckles, drug or allergy related photosensitivity

Question 7

Electrolytic Agents

Answer 7

.

Question 8

Gastrointestinal & Urinary Tract Agents

Answer 8

Enzymes
Antidiarrheals
Antiemetics
Antacids/ antiulcer agents
Laxatives and stool softeners
Urinary tract agents

Question 9

Hematological Agents

Answer 9

Hematopoietic agents

Question 10

Hormones & Modifiers

Answer 10

Thyroid and Parathyroid agents
Pituitary Agents 
Adrenal Agents
Insulins
Oral antidiabetics
Androgens
Phosphodiestarese inhibitors
Progestins
Estrogens
Contraceptives

Question 11

Immunobiologic Agents

Answer 11

Immune globulins

Vaccines

Question 12

Muscoskeletal Agents

Answer 12

Anti-gout agents
Osteoporitics
Muscle Relaxants
Antispazmodics

Question 13

Neurological Agents

Answer 13

Antiparkinsonian agents
Anti-Alzheimer’s agents
Anti-epileptics
Anti-migraine agents

Question 14

Opthalmic and Otic Agents

Answer 14

Antiglaucoma
Other opthalmics
Otics

Question 15

Pyschotropic Agents

Answer 15

Antipsychotics

Question 16

Respiratory Agents

Answer 16

Antihistamines
Decongestants
Antitussive
Expectorants and mucolytics
Bronchodilators

Question 17

ANESTHETIC AGENTS

Local Anesthetics

Answer 17

Indications:
> dental work or discomfort (topical or injection)
> birth pain (spinal, epidural, or caudal IV)
> sunburn, hemorrhoids, and skin irritations (topical)

Groups:
> Esters- metabolized by enzymes found in the blood or skin, short to moderate duration of effectiveness
> Amides- metabolized in the lover and therefore longer acting
> Others- those agents suitable for patients with allergies to esters or amides

Question 18

ANESTHETIC AGENTS
General Anesthesia
> generally classified according to their route of administration: inhalation or IV
> administered by a medical doctor called an anesthesiologist
> adjunctive drugs, such as analgesics, atropine-like drugs and anti-infectives may also be used

Answer 18

Stage I- ANALGESIA- Euphoria with loss of pain and consciousness
Stage II- EXCITEMENT- Increase in sympathetic nervous system effects such as blood pressure, heart, and respiratory rate
Stage III- SURGICAL ANESTHESIA- the stage in which surgery can safely be conducted. There are four levels of surgical anesthesia, with the higher numbered levels producing deeper anesthesia and more serious systemic effects.
Stage IV- MEDULLA PARALYSIS- an overdose of anesthesia can compromise the respiratory and heart centers of the brain’s medulla and cause death

Question 19

ANTI-INFECTIVES
Antibiotics (Antimicrobials) can either be bacteriostatic (inhibiting bacterial growth) or bactericidal (bacteria killing)
> not effective with viruses

Answer 19

types of antibiotic action:
> damage bacterial cell wall: penicillins cephalosporins
> modify protein synthesis : erythromcycin and tetracycline
> modify energy metabolism : sulfonamides
> modify DNA synthesis: ofloxacin and ciproflaxcin

Question 20

ANTI-INFECTIVES

Antivirals

Answer 20

inhibit the replication of viruses (so are virustatic). to effectively treat viral infections, the drug needs to stop the viral replication without damaging the patient’s healthy cells.
>Protease Inhibitors- used to treat HIV and Hepatitis C by blocking the enzyme resposible for viral replication
> other common antiviral agents include valacyclovir (Valtrex) and acyclovir (Zovirax)

Question 21

ANTI-INFECTIVES

Antifungals

Answer 21

used to treat fungal infections. The fungal cell is destroyed as the drug prevents cell permeability and nutrition.
>Common fungal infections are candidasis (vaginal yeast infection), ringworm, and athlete’s foot
>nystatin (Mycostatin) and fluconazole (Diflucan) are popular ones

Question 22

ANTINEOPLASTICS

Antimetabolites

Answer 22

inhibit cell growth and replication by mimicking natural metabolites and taking their place within the cells. These fake metabolites inhibit the synthesis of important cellular enzymes, including DNA

Question 23

ANTINEOPLASTICS

Alkalyting Agents

Answer 23

interfere wiuth mitosis or cell division by binding with DNA and preventing cellular replication

Question 24

ANTINEOPLASTICS

Plant Alkaloids

Answer 24

derived from natural products or semisynthetically produced using natural products, some of these drugs inhibit the enzyme topoisomerase. Topoisomerase is required for molecular cell growth or mitosis and therefore certain plant alkaloids interfere with cellular DNA replication. Other mechanisms of growth inhibition are not clearly understood.

Question 25

ANTINEOPLASTICS

Hormones

Answer 25

preventing cancer cells from using the hormones that they need to grow. They can sometimes result in the killing of cancer cells

Question 26

ANTINEOPLASTICS

Anti-tumor antibiotics

Answer 26

interact directly with cancer cells to prevent the DNA from functioning normally. This can sometimes result in the killing of cancer cells

Question 27

ANTINEOPLASTICS

Radioactive Isotopes

Answer 27

Radioactive substances can be used to kill cancer cells in a targeted area. Radiation treatments can be given by a machine or given internally using needles, seeds, wires, or catheters

Question 28

CARDIOVASCULAR AGENTS
Beta Blockers
(classes by mechanism of action)

Answer 28

drugs that reduce the oxygen demands of the heart muscle. Used to treat high blood pressure or arrythmias

Question 29

CARDIOVASCULAR AGENTS
Calcium Channel Blockers
(classes by mechanism of action)

Answer 29

drugs that relax the heart by reducing heart conduction. Used to treat high blood pressure or arrythmias

Question 30

CARDIOVASCULAR AGENTS
Diuretics
(classes by mechanism of action)

Answer 30

decrease blood pressure by decreasing blood volume. They decrease volume by increasing the elimination of salts and water through urination.

Question 31

CARDIOVASCULAR AGENTS
ACE Inhibitors
(classes by mechanism of action)

Answer 31

the “-pril” drugs, ACE inhibitors relax the blood vessels. They are often used to treat high blood pressure.NOTE: the “-sartan” drugs are considered a subgroup of ACE inhibitors

Question 32

CARDIOVASCULAR AGENTS
Vasodilators
(classes by mechanism of action)

Answer 32

relax and expand the blood vessels.