Respiratory Flashcards
SABAs (short acting beta2 agonists)
Causes side effects related to the sympathetic nervous system. What are those side effects?
Tachycardia
Hypertension
Palpitations
Anxiety
Insomnia
Tremors
Cardiac arrhythmias
SABAs are bronchodilators, therapeutic uses are as ASTHMA rescue inhalers. What is the most common generic name?
Albuterol
SABAs are bronchodilators, therapeutic uses are as ASTHMA rescue inhalers. What are administration education for inhalers?
Shake well.
Apply spacer.
Inhale and exhale before holding spacer to mouth.
Puff and breath in deeply.
HOLD a for 10 seconds.
30 secs-1 min in between puffs, NO more than 3 doses of 2-4 puffs every 20 mins
WASH out mouth.
LABAs are similar to SABAs. What is the main difference?
Time.
They are slower acting and are used in long term treatment of COPD, chronic bronchitis and prevention of bronchospasm.
When administering a BRONCHODILATOR and a CORTICOSTEROID you should administer which medication 1st ??
Bronchodilator 1st to open airways
Wait 5 mins
Administer corticosteroid for inflammation
Antitussive opioid are a cough suppressant. Should productive coughs be suppressed?
No, productive coughs are good.
Dry coughs may use cough suppressants.
Antitussive opioids (codeine) cause what kind of side effects?
Hint: similar to opioids
Sedation/dizziness
N&V
CNS depression
Respiratory depression
Constipation
Possible dependency
Antitussive opioids patient teaching includes:
Fluids and fiber for constipation
Orthostatic hypertension
Avoid alcohol
Respiratory corticosteroids treat what conditions?
Chronic asthma, nasal polyps and rhinitis
Respiratory corticosteroids cause side effects of:
Hint: 8 S’s
Sugar
Soft bones
Sickness…decreased immunity
Sad…depression
Sight…risk for cataracts
Swollen…water gain
Sex…decreased libido
Salt…water and salt retention (hypertension)
Respiratory corticosteroids patient education should include:
Report signs of infection
Increase calcium in diet
Yearly optometrist appointments
Stress causes a decrease in cortisol, dosage may need to increase in times of stress.
Mucolytics treat what types of conditions?
Cystic fibrosis, pneumonia, and bronchitis
What is the antidote for acetaminophen/Tylenol overdose?
Acetylcysteine
Mucolytics should be avoided in clients with asthma. What is the reason?
Does NOT have an effect on airway smooth muscle. Can worsen or cause bronchospasm.
Mucolytics typically are given in hospitals. What is some patient education for at home use?
May smell like rotten eggs, odor is normal and will disappear quickly
Do not exceed recommended dose
Avoid irritants: smoke and dust
Drink lots of fluids
Expectorants (guaifenesin) are used to treat what conditions?
Asthma, pneumonia, bronchitis, cystic fibrosis, tracheostomy care
Relief of cough especially when it’s dry and non-productive
What are antitussive opioids used for?
Suppresses nonproductive cough and decreases cough reflex
Antihistamines (Benadryl) are OTC medication‘s that have anticholinergic side effects. What are some examples of the side effects?
Sedation, vision issues, dry mouth, urinary retention, constipation
Second generation have fewer cetacean effects
Anti-histamines AKA histamine antagonist, have what therapeutic uses?
Treats common cold, motion sickness, rhinitis, urticaria, nausea and vomiting
Bronchodilators widen airways to help with what conditions?
Relieves and prevents bronchial asthma
Relieves bronchospasms and chronic bronchitis and emphysema 
The therapeutic range for bronchodilators is 10 to 20 mcg/mL. What are signs of toxicity?
Anorexia, insomnia, nausea and vomiting, restlessness, deadly seizures, and life-threatening arrhythmias.

To avoid toxicity of bronchodilators you should do what?
Obtain theophylline levels 30 minutes after administration
Continue to monitor serum theophylline levels and adjust the dose as needed. 
What patient education should be included with bronchodilators?
Avoid caffeinated products because they worsen the side effects of medication.
Leukotriene inhibitors prevent the release of Leukotrienes and treat what types of conditions?
Chronic asthma
seasonal allergic rhinitis
Leukotriene inhibitors (singular) have two common side effects? What are they?
Headache and flu like symptoms
Leukotriene inhibitors education?
Long-term management, not a rescue drug
May take one to two weeks to reach therapeutic levels 
Anticholinergics treat what types of conditions?
Treat COPD, Rhinitis, allergy induced asthma, and exercise induced bronchospasm
A patient with a peanut allergy should not take what anticholinergic medication?
Ipratropium (Atrovent)
It contains soy lectin, which is the same plant family as peanuts 
Triotropium is an anticholinergic capsule. What is special about this type of capsule?
Do not swallow triotropium (Spiriva) capsules they go in special inhalers.
Typical side effects of anticholinergics are blurred vision, dry mouth, urinary retention and constipation. What patient education should you include to combat the side effects? 
Consume fiber for constipation
Suck on sugar-free candy to help with dry mouth
Expectorants like Mucinex facilitate mobilization of mucus. What are some side effects?
Nausea and vomiting, headache, drowsiness, rash
What is one simple way to thin secretions ?
Drink water
