Medications (quick class/action) Flashcards
Acetaminophen
Class:
-Analgesic/antipyretic
Action:
- Inhibits the synthesis of prostaglandins which transmit pain signals and induce fever.
- Reduces pain by blocking the signals produced by prostaglandins.
Adenosine
Class:
-Antiarrythmic
Action:
-Slows electrical conduction through AV node, and interrupts re-entry pathway, converting SVT to NSR.
Albuterol
Class:
-Bronchodilator : Sympathomimetic (beta-2 specific)
Action:
- Relaxes bronchial smooth muscle by stimulating beta-2 adrenergic receptors.
- Produces bronchodilation, relieves bronchospasm, and reduces airway resistance.
Amiodorone Hydrochloride
Class:
-Antiarrhythmic
Action:
- Blocks sodium, potassium, and calcium channels in cardiac cells slowing conduction and prolongs repolarization.
- Has alpha and beta adrenergic blocking properties causing negative inotropic effects and reduces peripheral vascular resistance (afterload).
Aspirin
Class:
-Platelet aggregation inhibitor
Action:
- Inhibits normal tendency for platelets to accumulate inside injured or occluded coronary arteries, thereby improving blood flow through the vessels to better perfuse the heart.
- Blocks formation of Thromboxin A2.
Atropine
Class:
- Antiarrhythmic
- Anticholinergic
Action:
- Competes with acetylcholine for receptor sites blocking the PNS response at SA & AV nodes.
- Increases heart rate by increasing electrical conduction through the heart.
- Positive chronotropic properties with little or no inotropic effects.
- Inhibits secretions by decreasing PNS effect on bronchial, salivary, sweat, and GI glands.
Atrovent
Class:
-Bronchodilator : anticholinergic
Action:
- Antagonizes the action of acetylcholine, preventing the interaction of acetylcholine with muscarinic receptors in bronchial smooth muscle causing bronchodilation.
- Dries respiratory tract secretions.
Calcium Chloride
Class:
-Electrolyte
Action:
- Increases myocardial contractility.
- Increases ventricular automaticity.
- Reverses cardio-electric changes produced by hyperkalemia.
- Shifts potassium back into the cell to prevent intravascular hyperkalemia.
Charcoal
Class:
-Absorbent
Action:
- Binds and absorbs ingested toxins present in the GI tract.
- Inhibits intestinal absorption, preventing systemic toxicity.
Dextrose (D50/D10)
Class:
-Carbohydrate
Action:
-Increases blood glucose by providing a quick release of free sugar into the circulation.
Diphenhydramine
Class:
-Antihistamine
Action:
-Binds to histamine receptor sites blocking H1 and H2 receptors
>H1 causes bronchoconstriction, airway swelling, and
vasodilation.
>H2 causes secretion of gastric acid.
-Does not prevent histamine release.
Dopamine Hydrochloride
Class:
-Vasopressor: Sympathomimetic (both alpha and beta properties)
Action:
- At low and medium doses, selectively dilates blood vessels supplying the brain, kidneys, heart, and gastrointestinal tract.
- At medium to high doses, increases cardiac output by improving contractility and stroke volumem thereby increasing blood pressure.
- At high doses, causes vasoconstriction and increased heart rate.
Epinephrine
Class:
-Catecholamine: Sympathomimetic (both alpha and beta effects)
Action: -On the bronci: bronchodilation (beta 2) -On the peripheral vasculature : vasoconstriction (alpha) -On the heart: >Increased heart rate (chronotropic) >Increased contractility (inotropic) >Increased AV conduction (dromotropic) >Increased automaticity (dromotropic)
Fentanyl Citrate
Class:
-Analgesic: Opioid Agonist
Action:
-Potent narcotic analgesic and sedative.
Glucagon
Class:
-Antihypoglycemis: Pancreatic hormone
Action:
- Increases blood glucose by converting glycogen stored in the liver to glucose.
- Inhibits synthesis of glycogen from glucose.
Ketamine
Class:
-Anesthetic/Analgesic
Action:
- Low & slow dosing provides strong analgesic effects acting on the limbic system and cortex to block afferent transmission of impulses associated with pain perception.
- High & rapid dosing provides fast acting dissociative anesthetia (blocks sensory perception) which can lead to distortion of sights, colors, sounds, self, and one’s environment.
Lidocaine
Class:
-Antiarrhythmic/Anesthetic
Action:
- Depresses depolarization and automaticity in the ventricles.
- Increases the ventricular fibrillation threshold by increasing phase IV repolarization.
- Amide-type local anesthetic.
Midazolam
Class:
-Benzodiazepine: Sedative/Anticonvulsant
Action:
- CNS depressant.
- Produces anterograde amnesia, then sedation.
- Stops and prevents seizures.
Morphine Sulfate
Class:
- Opioid
- Narcotic analgesic
Action:
- CNS depressant acting on opiate receptors in the brain.
- Potent analgesic and sedative.
Naloxone
Class:
-Opioid antagonist
Action:
-Reverses respiratory depression, sedation, and hypotensive effects of opioid overdose by occupying opiate receptor sites.
Nitroglycerin
Class:
-Vasodilator
Action: -Produces vasodilation by relaxing systemic venous and arterial vessels, thereby: >Decreasing preload & afterload >Decreasing myocardial workload and >Decreasing mycoardial O2 consumption >Dilates coronary arteries
Normal Saline
Class:
-Electrolyte/isotonic crystalloid
Action:
- Electrolyte solution, which is osmotically equivalent to blood.
- Increases the circulating volume of the vascular system. (2/3 of infused volume leaves the vascular space within 1 hour)
Ondansetron
Class:
-Antiemetic
Action:
-Blocks serotonin receptors in vagus nerve terminals and in small intestine that trigger the vomiting reflex.
Sodium Bicarbonate
Class:
- Electrolyte
- Alkalinizing agent
Action:
-Reduces acidosis of causes alkalosis by direct release of bicarbonate ion into the circulation.
