Emt: Brady Emergency Care 11Th Edition - Chapter 15 - General Pharmacology

Front 1

Define "pharmacology."

Back 1

The study of drugs, their sources, characteristics, and effects

Front 2

When dealing with the public, what terms should you use instead of "drugs," and why?

Back 2

Use "medicines" or "medications." The public often associates the word "drugs" with illegal substances.

Front 3

What six medications can an EMT administer in the field?

Back 3

1) Activated charcoal

2) Oral glucose

3) Oxygen

4) Prescribed inhalers

5) Nitroglycerin

6) Epinephrine auto-injectors

Front 4

What's activated charcoal?

Back 4

Activated charcoal is a powder, usually premixed with water, that will absorb some poisons and help prevent them from being absorbed by the body.

Front 5

Define "oral glucose."

Back 5

A form of glucose (a kind of sugar) given by mouth to treat an awake patient (who is able to swallow) with an altered mental status and a history of diabetes.

Front 6

In what cases might activated charcoal be administered?

Back 6

Cases of poisoning and overdose

Front 7

How do you administer oral glucose?

Back 7

Generally oral glucose comes as a gel that can be applied to a tongue depressor and placed between the patient's cheek and gum or directly under the tongue.

Front 8

Define "oxygen."

Back 8

A gas commonly found in the atmosphere. Pure oxygen is used as a drug to treat any patient whose medical or traumatic condition may cause him to be hypoxic, or low in oxygen.

Front 9

What do prescribed inhalers, nitroglycerin, and epinephrine auto-injectors have in common?

Back 9

These are all prescribed medications, and an EMT can assist a patient in taking them if they have a prescription.

Front 10

Define "bronchodilator."

Back 10

A medication designed to enlarge constricted bronchial tubes, making breathing easier.

Front 11

What conditions would result in the prescription of a bronchodilator?

Back 11

Asthma, emphysema, chronic bronchitis.

Front 12

What are the most commonly found common bronchodilator drugs?

Back 12

Albuterol

Ventolin

Proventil

Volmax

Front 13

What are some common side effects of bronchodilator drugs?

Back 13

Increased heart rate, jitteriness

Front 14

Define "inhaler."

Back 14

A spray device with a mouthpiece that contains an aerosol form of a medication that a patient can spray into his airway.

Front 15

Define "nitroglycerin."

Back 15

A drug that helps to dilate the coronary vessels that supply the heart muscle with blood.

Front 16

What do many people use as a short name for nitroglycerin?

Back 16

"nitro."

Front 17

What's a common trade name of nitroglycerin?

Back 17

Nitrostat.

Front 18

What forms can nitroglycerin come in?

Back 18

Tablets or a spray

Front 19

What common drugs can interact dangerously with nitroglycerin?

Back 19

Drugs for the treatment of erectile dysfunction, such as Viagra (sildenafil) and Levitra (vardenafil).

Front 20

What is a common side effect of nitroglycerin?

Back 20

A drop in blood pressure

Front 21

What do you do in the case of a drop in blood pressure after administering nitroglycerin?

Back 21

Have the patient lie down and raise his legs, and contact medical direction for advice.

Front 22

What is an epinephrine auto-injector used for?

Back 22

It's used to reverse life-threatening changes in airway and circulation due to allergic reactions.

Front 23

Why must epinephrine be administered very quickly?

Back 23

Because severe allergic reactions may reach a life-threatening stage in a very short time.

Front 24

What is an epinephrine auto-injector?

Back 24

It's a syringe with a spring-loaded needle that will release and inject epinephrine into the muscle when the auto injector is pushed against the thigh.

Front 25

What's a common trade name for a one-dose epinephrine auto-injector? How about a trade name for a two-dose epinephrine auto-injector?

Back 25

Epi-Pen

Twinject

Front 26

What are common side effects of administering an epinephrine auto-injector?

Back 26

Increased heart rate and increased blood pressure.

Front 27

What comprehensive US government publication lists every drug and/or medication by its generic name?

Back 27

U.S. Pharmacopoeia (USP)

Front 28

How many names does every drug have?

Back 28

AT LEAST three names: the chemical name, the generic name, and one or more trade names.

Front 29

Define "indications."

Back 29

Specific signs or circumstances under which it is appropriate to administer a drug to a patient.

Front 30

Define "contraindications."

Back 30

Specific signs or circumstances under which it is not appropriate and may be harmful to administer a drug to a patient.

Front 31

Define "side effect."

Back 31

Any action of a drug other than the desired action.

Front 32

When is nitroglycerin indicated?

Back 32

When a patient has chest pain or squeezing, dull pressure.

Front 33

When is nitroglycerin contraindicated (when should it NOT be given)?

Back 33

When the patient has low blood pressure.

Front 34

What are common forms of medications?

Back 34

1) Compressed powders (tablets, such as nitroglycerin)

2) Liquids for injection (epinephrine)

3) Gels (glucose)

4) Suspensions (activated charcoal)

5) Fine powder for inhalation (prescribed inhaler)

6) Gases for inhalation (oxygen)

7) Sublingual sprays (nitroglycerin)

8) Liquid that is vaporized (fixed-dose nebulizer)

Front 35

Before administering any drug to any patient, what must you do?

Back 35

First, confirm the order and write it down. Then, check the four rights:

1) Do I have the right patient?

2) Is this the right medication?

3) Is this the right dose?

4) Am I giving this medication by the right route of administration?

Front 36

What routes of administration of a medication are there?

Back 36

1) Oral

2) Sublingual

3) Inhaled

4) Intravenous

5) Intramuscular

6) Subcutaneous

7) Endotracheal

Front 37

What must you do after administering medication to a patient?

Back 37

Reassess the patient to see how the drug has affected him.

Front 38

Name some common analgesics used for pain relief.

Back 38

Propoxyphene (Darvon)

Nalbuphine (Nubain)

Morphine (Astramorph PF, Duramorph, MS Contin, Roxanol)

Acetaminophen (Anacin-3, Panadol, Tempra, Tylenol)

Ibuprofen (Actiprofen, Advil, Excedrin IS, Motrin, Novoprofen, Nuprin)

Aspirin (Ecotrin, Emprin)

Codeine

Oxycodone (OxyContin)

Naproxen (Naprosyn)

Indomethacin (Indocin)

Front 39

Name some common drugs prescribed for heart rhythm disorders (antidysrhythmics)

Back 39

Digoxin (Lanoxin)

Propranolol (Inderal)

Verapamil (Calan, Calan SR, Isoptin, Isoptin SR, Verelan)

Procainamide (Procan SR, Promine, Pronestyl)

Disopyramide (Norpace)

Carvedilol (Coreg)

Metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL)

Front 40

Name some common drugs prescribed for prevention and control of seizures (Anticonvulsants)

Back 40

Carbamazepine (Epitol, Tegretol)

Phenytoin (Dilantin)

Primidone (Mysoline)

Phenobarbital (Phenobarbital, Phenobarbital Sodium, Solfoton)

Valproic acid (Depakene)

Iamotrigine (Lamictal)

Topiramate (Topamax)

Ethnosuximide (Zarontin)

Gabapentin (Neurontin)

Front 41

Name some common drugs prescribed to reduce high blood pressure (antihypertensives)

Back 41

Captopril (Capoten)

Clonidine (Catapres)

Guanabenz (Wytensin)

Hydralazine (Apresoline, Hydralazine HCL)

Hydrocholothiazide (Esidrix, HydroDiuril, Oretic)

Methyldopa (Aldomet)

Nifedipine (Adalat, Adalat CC, Procardia)

Prazosin (Minipress)

Front 42

Name some common drugs that relax the smooth muscles of the bronchial tubes (bronchodilators).

Back 42

Albuterol (Proventil, Ventolin, Volmax)

Isoetharine (Bronkometer, Bronkosol)

Metaproterenol (Alupent, Metaproterenol Sulfate, Metaprel)

Terbutaline (Brethaire, Brethine, Bricanyl)

Ipratropium (Atrovent)

Salmeterol (Serevent)

Albuterol/ipratropium (Combivent, DuoNeb)

Montelukast (Singulair)

Zafirlukast (Accolate)

Front 43

Name some common drugs prescribed to diabetic patients to control hyperglycemia (Antidiabetic Agents).

Back 43

Glipizide (Glucotrol)

Glyburide (DiaBeta, Glynase PresTab, Micronase)

Insulin (Humulin, Novolin, NPH, Humalog)

Metformin (Glucophage)

Glimepiride (Amaryl)

Front 44

Name some common antidepressant agents.

Back 44

Amitriptyline (Elavil)

Amoxapine

Buproprion (Wellbutrin)

Clomipramine (Anafranil)

Venlafaxine (Effexor)

Escitalopram (Lexapro)

Fluoxetine (Prozac)

Imipramine (Tofranil, Tripamine)

Nefazodone (Serzone)

Nortriptyline (Aventyl, Pamelor)

Paroxetine (Paxil)

Protriptyline (Vivactil)

Sertaline (Zoloft)

Trimipramine (Surmontil)

Citalopram (Celexa)

Front 45

Name some common herbal agents and what they are used for.

Back 45

Gingko or Gingkobiloba -- used for dementia, poor leg circulation, ringing in ears.

St. John's Wort -- used for depression

Echinacea -- used for prevention and treatment of common cold

Garlic -- used for high cholesterol

Ginger root -- used for nausea and vomiting

Saw palmetto -- used for swollen prostate

Hawthorn leaf or flower -- used for heart failure

Evening primrose oil -- used for PMS

Feverfew leaf -- used for migraine prevention

Kava kava -- used for anxiety

Valerian root -- used for insomnia