Medic Drugs

Front 1

Aspirin (ASA, Bayer, Ecotrin, St. Joseph, and Others)

Back 1

Mechanism Of Action:

Prevents platelets from clumping together and forming emboli

INDICATIONS:

New onset chest pain suggestive of acute myocardial infarction

Contraindications:

Relatively contraindicated in patients with active ulcer disease or asthma

ADVERSE REACTIONS:

Bronchospasm, anaphylaxis, wheezing in allergic patients, prolonged bleeding

CONSIDERATIONS:

Pregnancy safety: Category D Not recommended in pediatric population

Front 2

Adenosine

Back 2

Mechanism Of Action:

Slows conduction through the AV nodeCan interrupt reentrant pathways The drug of choice for reentry SVT

INDICATIONS:

Most forms of stable narrow-complex SVT

CONTRAINDICATIONS:

Bronchoconstrictive or bronchospastic lung disease

Adverse Reactions:

Generally short duration and mild

Considerations: Evaluate elderly for signs of dehydration

Hint 2

For bradycardia

Front 3

Amiodarone

Back 3

Mechanism Of Action:

Delays repolarization and increases the duration of action potential

INDICATIONS:

Ventricular fibrillation

CONTRAINDICATIONS:

Known hypersensitivity to amiodarone or iodine, Cardiogenic shock

Adverse Reactions:

Dizziness, fatigue, malaise Congestive heart failure

CONSIDERATIONS:

Pregnancy safety: Category D Monitor patient for hypotension.

Front 4

Albuterol

Back 4

Mechanism of action:

Results in smooth-muscle relaxation in the bronchial tree

Indications:

Treatment of bronchospasm in patients with COPD/asthma)

Contraindications:

Hypersensitivity reactions to albuterol

Adverse reactions:

Often dose-related and include headache, fatigue, lightheadedness, irritability, restlessness

Considerations:

Pregnancy safety: Category C May precipitate angina pectoris and dysrhythmias

Front 5

Alteplase, Recombinant (Tissue Plasminogen Activator or rTPA, Activase)

Back 5

Mechanism of action:

Restores perfusion

Indications:

Acute MI, STEMI, massive pulmonary emboli, acute ischemic CVA

Contraindications:

Active internal bleeding, Recent surgery

Adverse reactions:

Intracranial bleeding, reperfusion dysrhythmias, chest pain, hypotension, GI bleeding, nausea, abdominal pain

Considerations:

Monitor vital signs closely. Observe for bleeding.

Front 6

Amyl Nitrite

Back 6

Mechanism of action:

Converts hemoglobin to methemoglobin to prevent toxic effects

Indications:

Cyanide poisoning

Contraindications:

None in emergency settings

Adverse reactions:

Headache, dizziness, weakness

Considerations:

Pregnancy safety: Category XHighly flammable

Front 7

Atenolol

Back 7

Mechanism of action:

Decreases heart rate, myocardial contractility, and cardiac output

Indications:

To reduce myocardial ischemia and damage in acute myocardial infarction patients

Contraindications:

Heart failure, cardiogenic shock, bradycardia

Adverse reactions:

Dizziness, bronchospasm, bradycardia

Considerations:

Pregnancy safety:

Category D must be given slowly IV over 5 minutes, used with caution in patients with liver or renal dysfunction and COPD

Front 8

Epinephrine

Back 8

Mechanism of action:

Blocks histamine receptors

Indications:

Cardiac arrest, symptomatic bradycardia

Contraindications:

Hypertension, hypothermia, pulmonary edema

Adverse reactions:

Nervousness, restlessness, headache, tremor

Considerations:

Pregnancy safety: Category C May cause syncope in asthmatic children

Front 9

Naloxone Hydrochloride (Narcan)

Back 9

Mechanism of action:

Reverses respiratory depression secondary to opiate drugs

Indications:

Opiate overdose, complete or partial reversal of central nervous system and respiratory depression induced by opioids

Contraindications:

Use with caution in narcotic-dependent patients

Adverse reactions:

Restlessness, seizures, dyspnea, pulmonary

Considerations:

Pregnancy safety: Category C

Front 10

Nitroglycerin

Back 10

Mechanism of action:

Smooth muscle relaxant acting on vasculature, bronchial, uterine, intestinal smooth muscle

Indications:

Acute angina pectoris, ischemic chest pain

Contraindications:

Hypotension, hypovolemia, intracranial bleeding or head injury

Adverse reactions:

Headache, dizziness, weakness, reflex tachycardia

Considerations:

Pregnancy safety: Category C Hypotension more common in the elderly