Module 05: Respiratory Pharmacology Flashcards
This is an infection that involves the upper part of the respiratory system. This includes the nose, the throat, and the bronchi.
Upper Respiratory Tract Infection or Common Cold
What are signs and symptoms of Upper Respiratory Tract Infection or Common Cold?
(A) Nasal congestion
(B) Sneezing
(C) Fatigue
(D) Body Aches
What are the different types of supportive measures for Upper Respiratory Tract Infection or Common Cold?
(A) Rest adequately and increase oral fluid intake
(B) Sore throat (consume throat lozenges)
(C) Nasal congestion or stuffiness (take over the counter nasal decongestant)
(D) Cough and fevers (take an over the counter cough or fever reducer medicine)
What are the categories of upper respiratory medications?
(A) Antihistamines (first generation and second generation)
(B) Nasal Decongestants
(C) Intranasal Glucocorticoids
(D) Antitussives
(E) Expectorants
(F) Mucolytics
This upper respiratory medication is utilized to treat acute and allergic rhinitis.
Antihistamines
What is the mechanism of action of antihistamines?
(A) Competes with histamine for receptor sites preventing histamine response.
(B) Reduces nasopharyngeal secretions, itching and sneezing
What are the contraindications or cautions of using antihistamine?
(A) Severe liver disease
(B) Narrow angle glaucoma
(C) Urinary retention
When did first generation antihistamines become available for general use?
1942 (Still used today)
These medications work by affecting the histamine receptors in the brain and spinal cord.
First-generation antihistamines
What are some examples of first-generation antihistamines?
(A) Brompheniramine (Children’s Dimetapp Cold)
(B) Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
What are some defining characteristics of first-generation antihistamines?
They go through the blood-brain barrier and cause sleepiness.
When do first-generation antihistamines start to take an effect?
In about 30 to 60 minutes and last four to six hours.
This is known as the most popular first-generation antihistamine, especially for emergency use. This can be found in some over-the-counter antihistamines.
Chlorpheniramine
What are the side effects of first-generation antihistamines (besides drowsiness)?
(A) Dry mouth and eyes
(B) Blurry vision
(C) Headaches and dizziness
(D) Lowered blood pressure
(E) Mucous thickening
(F) Increased heart rate
(G) Constipation
(H) Trouble urinating
These medications are able to reduce the inflammation caused by allergies and are favored both because they have fewer side effects and can be more effective in treating allergy symptoms.
Second-generation antihistamines
What are some defining characteristics of second-generation antihistamines?
(A) Can be taken orally, nasally, IM or IV or via an eye dropper.
(B) Typically last for up to 24 hours.
What are some side effects of second-generation antihistamines?
(A) Headache
(B) Cough
(C) Fatigue
(D) Sore throat
(E) Stomach pain
(F) Nausea or vomiting
These medications may stimulate alpha adrenergic receptors.
Nasal Decongestants
Nasal decongestants stimulate alpha adrenergic receptors by:
(A) Producing nasal vasoconstriction
(B) Shrinking nasal mucous membranes
(C) Reducing nasal secretion
How are nasal decongestants administrated?
(A) Nasal Spray
(B) Nasal drops
(C) Tablet and capsule
(D) Liquid
What are some drug to drug interactions that one should take note of when taking nasal decongestants?
May increase restlessness and palpitations when consumed with caffeine (i.e. coffee or tea)
What are some examples of nasal decongestants?
(A) Oxymetazoline (Afrin)
(B) Naphazoline (Allerest)
(C) Pseudoephedrine (Sudafed)
What are some side effects of nasal decongestants?
(A) Nervousness
(B) Jitters
(C) Restless
(D) Alpha-adrenergic effect (hypertension and hyperglycemia)
What are some nursing implications that one should take note of when administering nasal decongestants to a patient?
(A) It causes rebound congestion if used for over 5 days.
(B) Increase fluid intake
What is the mechanism of action of intranasal glucocorticoids?
Anti-inflammatory
This medication is used to to treat allergic rhinitis and may be used alone or in combination with H1 antihistamines.
Intranasal Glucocorticoids
What are some contraindications and cautions of intranasal glucocorticoids?
Presence of acute infection (mucous)
Intranasal glucocorticoids are characterized to be like:
Cortisone-like medications
How can intranasal glucocorticoids be administered to the patient?
It can be sprayed or inhaled into the nose to help relieve stuffy nose, irritation, and discomfort of hay fever and other allergies and nasal problems.
Intranasal glucocorticoids are also used to prevent what?
To prevent nasal polyps from growing back after they have been removed by surgery.
Are Intranasal glucocorticoids prescription drugs or over the counter medications?
PRESCRIPTION ONLY MEDICATIONS
What are the dosage forms of intranasal glucocorticoids?
(A) Aerosol liquid
(B) Implant
(C) Spray
What are some side effects of intranasal glucocorticoids?
(A) Local burning
(B) Irritation
(C) Dryness of mucosa
(D) Headache
What are some nursing implications that one should take note of when administering intranasal glucocorticoids to a patient?
(A) Teach proper administration.
(B) Clear nasal passages before administration.
(C) Assess for the development of acute infection.
What is the mechanism of action of antitussives?
Thought to work by inhibiting a coordinating region for coughing located in the brain stem, disrupting the reflex arc; the exact mechanism is unknown.
These medications are used for temporary relief of coughs without phlegm that are caused by certain infections of the air passages (such as sinusitis and common cold).
Antitussives
When should antitussives be considered as the proper medication for a patient?
(A) For dry and irritating coughs that do not involve mucus production.
(B) Non-productive cough
What are some side effects of antitussives?
(A) Drowsiness
(B) Dizziness
(C) Nausea
What are some contraindications and cautions of antitussives?
Should not usually be used for an ongoing cough from smoking or long term breathing problems (such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema) unless directed medically.
What are some examples of antitussives
(A) Dextromethorphann hydrobromide (Benylin)
(B) Butamirate (Sinecod)
What is the mechanism of action of expectorants?
(A) Decrease surface tension of secretions by reducing viscosity
(B) Increasing the water content of secretions which decreases their viscosity (bronchial secretion enhancers)
(C) Dissolving the chemical bonds within the secretions, causing them to thin (mucolytics)
These medications are used to relieve chest congestion that occurs because of a cold, the flu or allergies.
Expectorants
What are some side effects of expectorants?
Drowsiness, nausea and vomiting
Based on the categories of asthma medications, what are the different acute relief medications?
(A) Short-acting beta antagonist (SABA)
(B) Systemic corticosteroids
(C) Anticholinergics
Based on the categories of asthma medications, what are the different long-term controlled medications?
(A) Inhaled corticosteroids
(B) Long-acting beta-2 Agonist (LABA and ultra-LABA)_
(C) Mast cell stabilizers
(D) Methylxanthins
(E) Leukotriene modifiers
(F) Anti-IgE antibodies
Based on the categories of asthma medications, what are the different added (miscellaneous) medications?
Sympathomimetics
These are the first line medications for acute treatment in asthma symptoms and exacerbations.
Short-acting Beta-2 Antagonists
Short-acting Beta-2 Antagonists (SABA) are often used in conjunction with what:
(A) LABAs
(B) Inhaled corticosteroids
(C) Long-acting muscarinic agonists in treatment for COPD
What is the typical administration of Short-acting Beta-2 Antagonists?
Inhalation via metered dosing or dry powder inhalation
Why is the inhalation route preferred over the alternative oral administration when administering Short-acting Beta-2 Antagonists?
Because inhalation has an increase in therapeutic value and a decrease in systemic side effects.
What are the common examples of Short-acting Beta-2 Antagonists (SABAs)?
(A) Salbutamol (Ventolin)
(B) Terbutaline (Bricanyl)
This medication is known as the “hallmark SABA.”
Salbutamol (Ventolin)
What is the onset action and the therapeutic effect duration of Salbutamol?
Onset of Action: Under 5 minutes
Therapeutic Effect Duration: Between 3 to 6 hours
What is the half-life of Salbutamol?
2.7 or 5 hours
Aside from being commonly used as an airway treatment (acute exacerbation of asthma and/or COPD), nebulized salbutamol is also useful for?
Useful as a treatment for hyperkalemia by providing a rapid shift of intracellular potassium.
This is a commonly used short-acting beta-2 agonist as a tocolytic in the cessation of labor contractions.
Terbutaline
What is the half-life of terbutaline?
16 hours
What is the mechanism of action of Short-acting Beta-2 Antagonists?
The B2-adreneceptor agonist (light green) binds to the B2 receptor (purple), which activates the adenyl cyclase, resulting in the conversion of ATP to cyclic AMP (cAMP). This promotes bronchodilation and relieves symptoms experienced during an acute asthma episode.
What are indications of Short-acting Beta-2 Antagonists?
(A) It provides symptomatic relief and prevention of bronchospasm due to bronchial asthma, chronic bronchitis, reversible obstructive airway disease, and other chronic bronchopulmonary disorders (COPD), in which bronchospasm is a complicating factor.
(B) It also prevents acute prophylaxis against exercise-induced bronchospasm and other stimuli known to induce bronchospasm.
Salbutamol for acute bronchospasm, administered via inhalation, is used to treat and prevent what?
Treatment and prevention in patient with reversible obstructive airway disease.
How is salbutamol administered as a metered dose-aerosol or dry powder inhaler (90 or 100 mg/actuation) - for acute bronchospasm?
Administered with 1 to 2 inhalations every 4 to 6 hours with a maximum of 800 mcg daily
How is salbutamol administered as a metered dose-aerosol or dry powder inhaler (90 or 100 mg/actuation) - for exercise-induced bronchospasm?
Administered with 2 inhalations every 15 to 30 minutes prior to exercise.
How is Salbutamol administered for acute bronchospasm in adults?
Through inhalation or nebulization.
What is the recommended dosage of Salbutamol for adults during acute bronchospasm?
2.5 to 5 mg (1.25 to 2.5 ml) per nebulization.
How often can Salbutamol nebulization be repeated if necessary?
Every 20 to 30 minutes.
What is the concentration of Salbutamol in the solution for inhalation?
2 mg/ml.
How much Salbutamol does a unit dose vial contain?
5 mg of Salbutamol in 2.5 ml of solution.
Can Salbutamol be diluted before nebulization?
Yes, it may be diluted with normal saline solution (NSS) in a 1:1 ratio to increase aerosolization.