Respiratory Drugs

Question 1

T/F: Hydrocodone is a narcotic example of an anti-tussive.

Answer 1

T

Question 2

T/F: Flovent, a corticosteroid inhalant takes 7-10 days to reach full effect.

Answer 2

T

Question 3

T/F: Theophylline and Aminophylline are examples of expectorant drugs and help expel mucus from the lungs.

Answer 3

F

They are bronchodilators used to expand the bronchioles in the lungs.
Guaifenesin and acetylcysteine are both expectorants.

Question 4

T/F: Bronchodilators are cough suppressants that inhibit the brain stem region responsible for coughing.

Answer 4

F

Bronchodilators expand the bronchioles in the lungs, making it easier to breath. While they can help with coughing, they are not known as cough suppressants. Anti-tussives are the true cough suppressants that inhibit the brain stem region of the brain that is responsible for coughing, thus blocking the cough reflex.

Question 5

T/F: A common side effect of bronchodilators drugs in musculoskeletal twitching.

Answer 5

T

Other side effects: excitability, insomnia, anorexia

Question 6

What are some normal protective mechanisms that our respiratory system normally has?

Answer 6

• sneezing and excessive nasal mucus production expels FB
• stimulation of larynx, trachea, bronchi, larger bronchioles elicits cough response
• vocal folds in larynx slam shut if anything stimulates the larynx
• trachea and larger bronchioles have a sheet of sticky mucus that traps particles
• construction of bronchioles is a last ditch attempt (bronchospasms)
• macrophages engulf particles in alveoli

Question 7

How does the cough reflex work?

Answer 7

• irritation (the stimulus) stimulates the larynx, trachea, bronchi, and/or bronchioles
• the irritation signal is sent to the cough center in the brain stem
• motor impulses then travel down to the diaphragm and respiratory muscles to produce a forceful expiration

Question 8

Coughing caused by larynx/upper trachea simulation sounds like…

Answer 8

a sudden, retching gagging cough

Question 9

Coughing caused by irritation to the lower trachea, bronchi, and larger bronchioles causes…

Answer 9

a more controlled, fuller, coordinated deep cough

Question 10

What NS controls bronchoconstriction?

Answer 10

Parasympathetic NS

Question 11

What things can cause bronchoconstriction?

Answer 11

• stimulation of cholinergic receptor by acetylcholine, drugs that mimic acetylcholine, or poisons or drugs that block acetylcholinesterase
• drugs that block beta-2 receptors also cause bronchoconstriction
• prostaglandins
• serotonin (cats)

Question 12

What NS controls bronchodilation

Answer 12

Sympathetic NS

Question 13

How does sympathetic NS activation lead to bronchodilation?

Answer 13

-stimulation of beta-2 receptor by either NE or drugs that stimulate that type of receptor

Question 14

List possible antitussives

Answer 14

Butorphanol
Hydrocodone
Codeine

Question 15

What do antitussives do?

Answer 15

break the cough-irritation-cough cycle

Question 16

What does a mucolytic drug do?

Answer 16

chemically alters the mucus to break up thick or sticky mucus making it more runny

Question 17

Give an example of a mucolytic drug

Answer 17

acetylcysteine

Question 18

What do expectorant drugs do?

Answer 18

They add water to the mucus to make it more runny so the mucus can be coughed up.

Question 19

Name one expectorant drug

Answer 19

Guaifenesin

Question 20

What are the 2 types of bronchodilator drugs?

Answer 20

• Methylxanthines (theophylline, aminophylline)

- Beta-2 adrenergic agonists (stimulate beta-2)