Respiratory Drugs Flashcards
What is the mucociliary apparatus?
combination of mucus and cilia
trachea and bronchioles line with sticky mucus > mucus gets swept upwards by cilia in resp tract > mucus and trapped particles are then coughed up and expelled
What is a productive cough?
cough that produces mucus and inflammatory products
What should be avoided in patients with a productive cough and why?
antitussives because it is important that the mucus is coughed up out of the lungs
What is inspissated mucus?
dry, sticky mucus that may accompany bronchitis (non productive)
What is a non productive cough?
dry, hacking cough with no mucus production
What is something to note in a patient with a non productive cough?
replace fluids in dehydrated animal before deciding to use antitussives > once rehydrated a NPC could become PC
What is Cor Pulmonale?
describes pulmonary disease that can cause cardiac disease (chronic severe asthma may interfere with oxygen supply to heart)
What are mucolytics?
A class of drugs used to break up and thin mucus to make it easier to expel - lyse mucous and decrease viscosity
What are expectorants?
drugs that increase fluidity of the mucus - easier to move mucus up from LRT
increase liquid secretions of cells of the respiratory tract
What are the 3 main principles of respiratory therapy?
- control of secretions (decreasing production OR increasing elimination)
- control of reflexes (coughing, sneezing, bronchospasms)
- maintaining normal airflow to alveoli
How do antitussives work?
stop or decrease coughing by blocking the cough reflex in the “cough center” (medulla of brain) - stimulated by irritation of cough receptors in larynx, trachea & bronchi
When should we use antitussives?
dry, hacking coughs (tracheitis)
uncomplicated tracheobronchitis (KC)
Collapsing trachea
When should we not use antitussives?
Productive cough
Chronic bronchitis when the mucociliary apparatus cannot move the inspissated mucus
What are the 2 main categories of antitussives?
Centrally acting - suppress cough center in brain
Locally acting - directly soothes irritated respiratory mucosa (not used much in VM, won’t suck on lozenges)
What is butorphanol used for?
Centrally acting cough suppressant, causes little sedation
Butorphanol
What are the properties of hydrocodone and what do we use it for?
Human drug - ELDU
Narcotic - more potent than butorphanol and codeine
Can cause sedation and constipation
OD can cause severe resp and cardio depression
Used as an antitussive
What is codeine?
Antitussive
Human drug - weak narcotic
not used lots in dogs because it is inconsistently absorbed
DO NOT use acetaminophen codeine combo
What is dextromethorphan?
human drug in many OTC human cough syrups - often in combo with other drugs. DO NOT recommend to owners (antitussive)
What are the 2 uses for acetylcysteine (Mucomyst)?
- nebulization
- antidote for acetaminophen
(Mucolytic)
What are the effects of dembrexine?
- antitussive
- increases concentration of abx in lung secretions
(Mucolytic)
What are some expectorant drugs?
Guaifenesin (GGE)
> oral to increase watery secretions
Volatile Oils
> Eucalyptus
> Menthol
> Camphor
Why shouldn’t you use an antitussive and an expectorant together?
Expectorants increase liquid secretions of the resp tract and antitussives suppressing coughing up = fluid buildup in lungs
How do decongestants work?
reduce congestion of swollen nasal tissue by constricting blood vessels of skin and MM - reduces fluid leaking from blood vessels = decreasing edema
can also increase HR
What are some decongestant drugs?
Pseudoephedrine
Ephedrine
Phenylephrine
