EMT Pharm Flashcards
activated charcoal (Actidose with Sorbitol)
Route. Action. Indications. Contraindications. Side effects. Interactions. Adult dose. Administration concerns.
Route: PO
Action: Adsorbs toxic substances in the digestive tract
Indications: Most oral poisonings; overdose
Contraindications: Decreased level of consciousness; overdose of corrosives, caustics, or petroleum substances
Side effects: Nausea, vomiting, constipation, black stools
Interactions: Bonds with and inactivates most medications/substances in the digestive tract
Adult Dose: 1 to 2 g/kg
Administration concerns: Stains (protect patient and provider clothing); do not give when giving other PO medications
aspirin (Bayer)
Route. Action. Indications. Contraindications. Side effects. Interactions. Adult dose. Administration concerns.
Route: PO
Action: Anti-inflammatory agent and anti-fever agent; prevents platelets from clumping, thereby decreasing formation of new clots
Indications: Relief of mild pain, headache, muscle aches; chest pain of cardiac origin
Contraindications: Hypersensitivity; recent bleeding
Side effects: Nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, bleeding, allergic reactions
Interactions: Caution should be used in patient who are taking anticoagulants
Adult dose: 160 to 325 mg; 160 to 325-mg chewable tablets for chest pain
Administration concerns: Do not administer for pain caused by trauma or for fevers in children; patients with chest pain must be able to chew tablets
common fast-acting MDI medications (albuterol [Proventil, Ventolin])
Route. Action. Indications. Contraindications. Side effects. Interactions. Adult dose. Administration concerns.
Route: Inhalation
Action: Stimulates nervous system, causing bronchodilation
Indications: Asthma/difficulty breathing with wheezing
Contraindications: Hypersensitivity; tachycardia (relative); chest pain of cardiac origin
Side effects: Hypertension, tachycardia, anxiety, restlessness
Interactions: Increases effects of other nervous system stimulants
Adult dose: 1 to 2 inhalations; wait 5 minutes before repeating dose
Administration concerns: Patient must inhale all medication in one breath; coach patient to hold breath for 5 seconds after inhalation
epinephrine (EpiPen)
Route. Action. Indications. Contraindications. Side effects. Interactions. Adult dose. Administration concerns.
Route: IM
Action: Stimulates nervous system, causing bronchodilation
Indications: Anaphylactic reaction
Contraindications: Chest pain of cardiac origin; hypothermia; hypertension
Side effects: Hypertension, tachycardia, anxiety, restlessness
Interactions: Increases effects of other nervous system stimulants
Adult dose: .3 mg for adult; .15 mg for children
Administration concerns: Medication will last approximately 5 minutes; do not repeat dose; ensure ALS is en route for continuing treatment
naloxone (Narcan, EVZIO auto-injector)
Route. Action. Indications. Contraindications. Side effects. Interactions. Adult dose. Administration concerns.
Route: IM, IN
Action: Reverses respiratory depression secondary to opioid overdose
Indications: Opioid poisoning
Contraindications: Hypersensitivity
Side effects: Nausea, vomiting
Interactions: Additional doses may be required for severe opioid overdose
Adult dose: 2 mg IN or IM auto-injector
Administration concerns: Patients may wake up combative
nitroglycerin (Nitrostat, Nitromist)
Route. Action. Indications. Contraindications. Side effects. Interactions. Adult dose. Administration concerns.
Route: SL tablet or spray
Action: Dilates blood vessels
Indications: Chest pain of cardiac origin
Contraindications: Hypotension; use of sildenafil (Viagra) or another treatment for erectile dysfunction within the previous 24 hours; head injury
Side effects: Headache, burning under tongue, hypotension, nausea
Interactions: Increases dilating effects of other blood vessel-dilating medications
Adult dose: .3 to .4 mg SL; .4 mg spray
Administration concerns: Ensure ALS is en route
oral glucose (Glutose)
Route. Action. Indications. Contraindications. Side effects. Interactions. Adult dose. Administration concerns.
Route: PO
Action: When absorbed, provides glucose for cell use
Indications: Low blood glucose (hypoglycemia)
Contraindications: Decreased level of consciousness; nausea; vomiting
Side effects: Nausea, vomiting
Interactions: None
Adult dose: 1/2 to 1 tube
Administration concerns: Patient must be awake, have control of airway, and be able to follow commands
oxygen (no trade name)
Route. Action. Indications. Contraindications. Side effects. Interactions. Adult dose. Administration concerns.
Route:Inhalation
Action: Reverses hypoxia; provides oxygen to be absorbed by lungs
Indications: Hypoxia or suspectd hypoxia
Contraindications: Very rarely used in patients with COPD; do not use near open flames, as oxygen will support combustion
Side effects: Decreased respiratory effort in rare cases in patients with COPD
Interactions: Can support combustion
Adult dose: Use oxygen delivery devices to administer 28% to 100% oxygen
Administration concerns: No open flames nearby; do not withhold oxygen from patients in respiratory distress
acetaminophen (Tylenol)
Route. Action. Indications. Contraindications. Side effects. Interactions. Adult dose. Administration concerns.
Route: PO
Action: Analgesic and fever reducer
Indications: Relief of mild pain or fever, headache, muscle aches
Contraindications: Hypersensitivity
Side effects: Allergic reaction
Interactions: Take caution to avoid potential overdosing. Many OTC medications contain acetaminophen
Adult dose: 500 to 1,000 mg every 4 hours as needed; dose is weight-based for children
Administration concerns: Weight of child is more important than age
diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
Route. Action. Indications. Contraindications. Side effects. Interactions. Adult dose. Administration concerns.
Route: PO
Action: Antihistamine (blocks histamine)
Indications: Mild allergic reactions
Contraindications: Asthma; glaucoma; pregnancy; hypertension; infants
Side effects: Sleepiness (although can stimulate children), dry mouth and throat
Interactions: Do not take with alcohol or MAO inhibiters (a type of psychiatric medication)
Adult dose: 25 to 50 mg
Administration concerns: Can use in severe allergic reaction; however, epinephrine is administered first
ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, Nuprin)
Route. Action. Indications. Contraindications. Side effects. Interactions. Adult dose. Administration concerns.
Route: PO
Action: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that reduces inflammation and fever; analgesic
Indications: Mild pain or fever, headache, muscle aches
Contraindications: Hypersensitivity
Side effects: Nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, bleeding, allergic reactions
Interactions: Do not take with aspirin
Adult dose: 200 to 400 mg every 4 to 6 hours; dose is weight-based in children
Administration concerns: Do not take for pain caused by trauma; weight of child is more important than age
morphine (Arymo ER, MorphaBond ER, Astramorph-PF)
Route. Action. Indications. Contraindications. Side effects. Interactions. Adult dose. Administration concerns.
Route: PO, IM IV
Action: Relieve severe pain
Indications: Severe pain, pain in myocardial infarction, acute pulomary edema
Contraindications: Respiratory depression, hypersensitivity
Side effects: Orthostatic hypotension, respiratory depression, nausea
Interactions: Antihistamines
Adult dose: oral:10-30 mg; IM: 5-20 mg; IV 4-10 mg over 5 minutes
Administration concerns:
lorazepam (Ativan)
Route. Action. Indications. Contraindications. Side effects. Interactions. Adult dose. Administration concerns.
Route: Slow IV diluted in at least an equal volume of saline; IM (undiluted)
Action: Decreases cerebral irritability; sedation
Indications: Status Epilepticus; anxiety relief
Contraindications: Hypersensitivity to benzodiazepines or benzyl alcohol
Side effects: CNS and respiratory depressant
Interactions: alcohol; antihistimines
Adult dose: 2 mg slow IV (<2 mg/min) or IM
Administration concerns: Can cause respiratory failure
atropine (Atropen)
Route. Action. Indications. Contraindications. Side effects. Interactions. Adult dose. Administration concerns.
Route: IV push
Action: Blocks acetylcholine (ACh) at muscarinic sites
Indications: Symptomatic bradyarrhythmias; Refractory bronchospasm
Contraindications: Relative contraindication wide complex bradycardia in the setting of acute ischemic chest pain
Side effects: Tachyarrhythmias
Interactions: Antihisamines
Adult dose: Bradyarrhythmias – 0.5mg , may repeat every 3-5 minutes
Administration concerns: palpitations, dilated pupils, difficulty swallowing, hot dry skin, thirst
dextrose (D50W, D25W)
Route. Action. Indications. Contraindications. Side effects. Interactions. Adult dose. Administration concerns.
Route: IV slow
Action: Raises the blood sugar
Indications: Diabetic patients with low blood sugar level (<70 mg/dL in adults); Altered mental states; Seizure
Contraindications: acute strokes with normal finger stick blood glucose
Side effects: Tissue necrosis if infiltration occurs
Interactions: magnesium chloride (minor)
Adult dose: 25 Gms Slow IV push
Administration concerns:Tissue necrosis if infiltration occurs
