Meds Class/Actions Flashcards
Albuterol
Class: Bronchodilator, Sympathomimetic (beta 2 specific)
Action: Relaxes bronchial smooth muscles by stimulating beta 2 adrenergic receptors, produces bronchodilation, relieves bronchospasm, and reduces airway resistance.
Adenosine
Class: Antiarrythmic
Action: Slows electrical condution through AV node, and interrupts re-entry pathway, converting SVT to NSR.
Amiodarone Hydrochloride
Class: Antiarrythmic
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 vessels to better perfuse the heart. Blocks formation of Thromboxin A2.
Atropine Sulfate
Class: Antiarrythmic, Anticholinergic
Action: Competes with acetylcholine for receptor sites blocking the PNS response at SA and 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
Benadryl
Class: Antihistamine
Action: Binds to histamine receptor sites, blocking H1 and H2 receptors.
H1 receptors causes bronchoconstriction, airway swelling and vasodilaton. H2 causes secretion of gastric acid.
Does not prevent histamine release.
Calcium Chloride
Class: Electrolyte
Action: Increases myocardial contractility.
Enhances ventricular automaticity
Reverses cardio-electric changes produced by hyperkalemia
Shifts potassium back into 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 50%
Class: Carbohydrate
Action: Increases blood glucose by providing a quick release of free sugar into the circulation.
Dopamine
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 volume, 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 bronchi: bronchodilation (beta 2)
On the peripheral vasculature: vasoconstriction (alpha)
On the heart: Increased heart rate (beta 1) / chronotropic Increased contractility / inotropic Increased AV conduction / dromotropic Increased automaticity / dromotropic
Glucagon
Class: Antihypoglycemic, pancreatic hormone
Action: Increases blood glucose by converting glycogen stored in the liver to glucose.
Inhibits synthesis of glycogen from glucose.
Lidocaine
Class: antiarrythmic / anesthetic
Action: Depresses depolarization and automaticity in the ventricles.
Increases the ventricular fibrillation threshold by increasing phase IV repolarization.
Amide-type local anesthetic
Lidocaine Jelly
Class: topical anesthetic
Action: Prohibits the initiation and conduction of impulses thereby effecting local anesthetic action.
Decreases irritation when airway tube is inserted thereby decreasing intracranial pressure.
