Pharmacology (EMT) Flashcards
Pharmacology
The study of the properties and effects of drugs and medications.
Dose / Dosage
A quantity of a medicine or drug taken or recommended to be taken at a particular time.
Action
The therapeutic effect that a medication or drug is expected to have on the body.
What the drug / medication is suppose to do.
Indications
The therapeutic uses for a given drug or medication.
Why is it given.
Contraindications
A situation in which giving a medication would be harmful to the patient, or would have no positive effect on the patient’s condition or outcome.
Side Effect(s)
Any action of a medication or drug other than the desired one(s).
What it does that it is not suppose to do.
Trade Name
(Medications)
A brand name that a manufacturer gives to a medication or drug (Capitalized).
Generic Name
(Medications)
Usually the original chemical name /nomenclature for a drug or medication (not capitalized).
Antagonism
An interaction between two or more drugs that have opposite effects on the body.
Drug antagonism may block or reduce the effectiveness of one or more of the drugs.
Blocks or shunts receptors.
Bolus
A single dose of a drug or other substance given over a short period of time.
It is usually given by infusion or injection into a blood vessel.
Cumulative Action
A condition in which repeated administration of a drug produces a more pronounced effect than that which was produced on the initial dose.
Depressant(s)
A drug or medication that reduces functional or nervous activity.
Habituation
The process of developing a resistance to a drug or medication through habitual or regular use.
Hypersensitivity
An immune-mediated reaction to a drug that might produce an allergic response or other symptoms.
Idiosyncrasy
An unexpected and undesired reaction to a drug that occurs in a small percentage of patients and has no obvious relationship to dose or duration of therapy.
Potentiation
An interaction between two or more medications that causes an increase in the potency of the treatment and the medications involved.
Refractory
A disease or condition that causes a resistance or immunity to treatment or medication.
Stimulant(s)
A drug that increases functional or nervous activity.
Synergism
The interaction of two or more drugs that have a greater effect when combined than the sum of effects when given individually.
Therapeutic Action
The results of medical treatment of any kind, whether for good or ill.
Tolerance
A diminished response to treatment or medication built up after frequent exposure.
Untoward Effect
A harmful, abnormal, or adverse effect in response to a medications administration.
Agonist
A drug or substance that binds to a receptor inside a cell or on its surface, and causes the same action as the substance that normally binds to the receptor.
Drug agonism may support the effectiveness of one or more drugs in use.
Activates receptors.
Opioid(s)
A drug or substance that acts on opioid receptors to produce morphine-like effects.
Medical uses include:
— Chronic Pain Relief
— Therapy for Opioid Use Disorder
— Reversing Opioid Overdose
— Suppressing Cough/Diarrhea
Cannabinoids
Any drug or substance of a group of closely related compounds which include Cannabinol and the active constituents of cannabis.
Empathogen(s)
A substance or class of psychoactive drugs that produce experiences of emotional communion, oneness, relatedness, emotional openness — that is, empathy or sympathy — as particularly observed and reported for experiences with 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA).
Also known medically as Entactogen(s).
Psychedelic(s)
A substance or any subclass of hallucinogenic drugs whose primary effect is to trigger non-ordinary mental states (known as psychedelic experiences or psychedelic “trips”) and/or an apparent expansion of consciousness.
Dissociative(s)
Colloquially referred to as Dissos, are a drug or subclass of hallucinogen substances which distort perception of sight and sound and produce feelings of detachment — dissociation — from the environment and/or self.
Additivity
When the effect of two drugs given in combination equals the mathematical summation of their effects when given alone.
Aspirin / ASA
(Bayer®)
Drug type:
— Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug (NSAID)
Indications:
— Chest pain (cardiac) / Blood clots
Contraindications:
— Allergies
— Severe ulcers
Dosage:
— 160-325mg PO (2-4 baby ASA)
Time for Effect:
— 20 mins - 1 hour
Administration (Orally PO):
— Place chewable ASA in patient’s mouth, and have them chew completely before swallowing
Actions:
— Inhibits platelet aggregation (lubricates)
— Anti-inflammatory
Side Effects:
— Gastric Irritation
Oral Glucose
(Insta-Glucose®)
Drug type:
— Dextrose Monosaccharide (sugar)
Indications:
— Patient’s with altered mental status
— History of diabetes with medications
Contraindications:
— Altered LOC
— Unconscious / Unresponsive
Dosage:
— 15g PO (approx. one tube)
Time for Effect:
— 10-20 mins
Administration (Orally PO):
— Assure the patient is conscious, can swallow, and can protect their airway
— Administer:
• between the cheek and gum
• place on tongue depressor
— Begin suctioning if patient loses consciousness
Actions:
— Increases blood sugar
Side Effects:
— None (when administered properly)
— May be aspirated by patient without gag reflex
Naloxone
(Narcan®)
Drug type:
— Opioid Antagonist
Indications:
— Respiratory depression secondary to Opioid overdose
Contraindications:
— Patients with a known hypersensitivity
Dosage:
— 2mg IN or 0.4mg IM (may repeat once)
Time for Effect:
— 2-5 mins (IN / IM) | 1-2 mins (IV)
Administration (Intranasal IN):
— Assemble pre-load container
— Connect Mucosal Atomization Device (MAD) to syringe
— Insert MAD into nostril
— Forcefully deliver 1/2 of medication into each nostril (1ml per nostril)
Administration (Intramuscular IM):
— Ensure medication is not discolored
— Remove safety cap from auto-injector
— Place tip of auto-injector against patient’s outer thigh
— Push firmly until auto-injector activates
— Hold auto-injector for 10 seconds
— Record the time of administration
— Dispose of auto-injector in sharps container
Actions:
— Opioid antagonist
— Blocks Opioid receptors
Side Effects:
— Nausea / Vomiting
— May cause Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome (Opioid dependent patients)
Nitroglycerin
(Nitrostat®)
Drug type:
— Nitrate Vasodilatador
Indications:
— Chest pain (cardiac) / Blood clots
— Physician prescribed tablets / spray
— Authorization from medical control
Contraindications:
— Blood Pressure below 100 Systolic
— Patient has already taken max prescribed dosage prior to arrival
— Patient took ED medication in the last 12-24 hours
Dosage:
— 1 tablet
— 0.4mg SL (one spray)
• Repeat in 3-5 minutes
• Blood Pressure is greater than 100 Systolic
• Authorized by medical control for up to 3 doses
Time for Effect:
— 1-5 mins
Administration (SL):
— Ask patient to open mouth and place tongue on roof of mouth
— Administer tablet or spray dosage under the tongue (sublingual)
— Reassess Blood Pressure after 2 minutes
Actions:
— Relaxes blood vessels (vasodilation)
— Decreases workload of the heart
Side Effects:
— Hypotension (low blood pressure)
— Headache (cerebral swelling)
— Tachycardia
Epinephrine Auto-injector
(Epi-Pen® / Adrenaline®)
Drug type:
— Beta 1 / Beta 2 Adrenergic Antagonist
Dosage:
— 0.3mg Auto-injector (adult) — 0.15mg Auto-injector (infant / child)
Route:
— Intramuscular (IM)
Actions:
— Vasoconstriction — Bronchodilation
Indications:
— Allergic Reaction — Anaphylaxis
Contraindications:
— None (when used for life-threats)
Side Effects:
— Tachycardia — Chest Pain — Pallor (paling of skin) — Headache — Dizziness
Time for Effect:
— Immediately (5-10 mins for full effect)
Administration (Intramuscular IM):
— Ensure medication is not discolored — Remove safety cap from auto-injector — Place tip of auto-injector against patient’s outer thigh — Push firmly until auto-injector activates — Hold auto-injector for 10 seconds — Record the time of administration — Dispose of auto-injector in sharps container
Albuterol / Inhalers
(Proventil®, Ventolin ®)
Drug type:
— Steroidal Bronchodilator
Dosage:
— 2.5mg / 3mL — Prescribed inhalations
Route:
— Inhaled (INH)
Actions:
— Bronchodilation — Beta Antagonist
Indications:
— Signs / Symptoms of respiratory distress — Physician prescribed handheld inhalers — Authorization from medical control
Contraindications:
— Patient’s inability to use device — Patient took maximum doses
Side Effects:
— Tachycardia — Nervousness — Tremors
Time for Effect:
— 5-10 mins (INH inhalation) — 5 mins (INH nebulizer)
Administration (Inhaled INH):
— Ensure inhaler is at room temperature — Shake inhaler vigorously several times — Have patient exhale deeply — Have patient purse lips on mouth piece — Have patient depress inhaler and inhale — Direct patient to hold breath as if possible — Direct patient to exhale slowly through — Use mouthpiece spacer if available
