Rx Drug List

Question 1

Atropine (Atropen)

Answer 1

Atropine (Atropen)

May treat: Slow heartbeat, Cardiac arrest, Uveitis, Sinoatrial block, Drug Toxicity, Stomach ulcer

Trade names: Atropen

Drug classes: Anticholinergic, Muscarinic receptor antagonists

Pregnancy risk: Category B, Category C

Routes: Oral, IV, IM, rectal

Bioavailability: 25%

Metabolism: 50% hydrolysed to tropine and tropic acid

Half-life 2 hours

Excretion 50% excreted unchanged in urine

Question 2

Albuterol (Proventil, AccuNeb)

Answer 2

Albuterol (Proventil, AccuNeb)

Treats asthma, bronchitis, COPD and similar breathing problems. This medicine is a bronchodilator.

Drug class: Beta2-adrenergic agonist

Pregnancy risk: Category C (Risk cannot be ruled out)

Routes Oral, inhalational, IV

Metabolism Hepatic

Half-life 1.6 hours

Excretion Renal

The most common side effects are fine tremor, anxiety, headache, muscle cramps, dry mouth, and palpitation.[7] Other symptoms may include tachycardia, arrhythmia, flushing, myocardial ischemia (rare), and disturbances of sleep and behaviour.[7] Rarely occurring, but of importance, are allergic reactions of paradoxical bronchospasm, urticaria, angioedema, hypotension, and collapse. High doses may cause hypokalaemia, which is of concern in patients with renal failure and those on certain diuretics and xanthine derivatives.[7]

Question 3

Bethanechol (Urecholine)

Answer 3

Bethanechol (Urecholine)

Treats urinary or bladder problems. Helps empty the bladder and increases urination. May treat: Inability to empty bladder, Gastroesophageal reflux disease, Drug-Induced Abnormalities

Pregnancy risk: Category C (Risk cannot be ruled out)

Drug class: Cholinergic Muscarinic Agonist

Adverse reactions are rare following oral administration of Bethanechol, but are more common following subcutaneous injection. Adverse reactions are more likely to occur when dosage is increased.

The following adverse reactions have been observed: Body as a Whole: malaise; Digestive: abdominal cramps or discomfort, colicky pain, nausea and belching, diarrhea, borborygmi, salivation; Renal: urinary urgency; Nervous System: headache; Cardiovascular: a fall in blood pressure with reflex tachycardia, vasomotor response; Skin: flushing producing a feeling of warmth, sensation of heat about the face, sweating; Respiratory: bronchial constriction, asthmatic attacks; Special Senses: lacrimation, miosis.

OVERDOSAGE:

Early signs of overdosage are abdominal discomfort, salivation, flushing of the skin (“hot feeling”), sweating, nausea, and vomiting.

Atropine sulfate is a specific antidote. The recommended dose for adults is 0.6 mg. Repeat doses can be given every two hours, according to clinical response. The recommended dosage in infants and children up to 12 years of age is 0.01 mg/kg (to a maximum single dose of 0.4 mg) repeated every two hours as needed until the desired effect is obtained or adverse effects of atropine preclude further usage. Subcutaneous injection of atropine is preferred except in emergencies when the intravenous route may be employed.

The oral LD50 of Bethanechol chloride is 1510 mg/kg in the mouse.