Pharmacology: Anesthetics, Analgesics, Psychotropics, Ophthalmic & Adrenergic Blockers

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering general and local anesthetics, neuromuscular blockers, antidepressants, anxiolytics, opioids, non-opioid analgesics, ophthalmic preparations, and adrenergic-blocking agents from NUR1012.

Local Anesthetics

Medications that block pain in a specific area without generalized central nervous system depression by stopping nerve signals from reaching the brain; administered topically or parenterally and also known as regional anesthetics.

EMLA Cream (Lidocaine and Prilocaine Cream, 2.5% / 2.5%)

A topical local anesthetic emulsion applied 1 to 2 hours prior to procedures such as cannula insertion, needle sticks, lumbar punctures, or pediatric shots.

General Anesthetics

Drugs administered intravenously or via inhalation that produce unconsciousness and a lack of responsiveness to all painful stimuli, carrying risks of respiratory depression, cardiac depression, and malignant hyperthermia.

Nitrous Oxide

A colorless inhaled gas that does not cause cardiac or respiratory depression; used for dental procedures and analgesia in combination with primary anesthetics, commonly causing postoperative nausea and vomiting.

Isoflurane

A prototype volatile liquid, high-potency inhaled general anesthetic that can cause hypotension, respiratory depression, decreased urine output, and malignant hyperthermia.

Sevoflurane

The most commonly used inhaled anesthetic for children and adults, characterized by a rapid onset, low airway irritation, not leaving the patient drowsy, and causing postoperative nausea and vomiting.

Neuromuscular Blocking Drugs

Medications (such as succinylcholine, atracurium, and rocuronium) that prevent nerve transmission in muscles to produce skeletal muscle paralysis; they do not cause sedation or relieve pain and require artificial mechanical ventilation.

Antidepressant Boxed Warning

An FDA warning highlighting a possible increase in suicidal thoughts or behavior, particularly in pediatric and young adult patients under $25$ years old.

SHIVERS Mnemonic

A diagnostic memory aid for Serotonin Syndrome: Shivering, Hyperreflexia + myoclonus, Increased temperature ($> 41^\text{\textdegree C}$), Vital signs instability, Encephalopathy (altered LOC), Restlessness, and Sweating.

Tyramine-Rich Foods

Dietary items prohibited during MAOI therapy to prevent hypertensive crisis, including aged cheeses, cured/smoked meats, pickled products, alcoholic beverages (beer, wine), soy products, yeast-extract spreads, and overripe fruits.

Mirtazapine

A tetracyclic atypical antidepressant that potentiates the effects of norepinephrine and serotonin; contraindicated within $14\text{ days}$ of MAOI therapy.

Trazodone

An atypical antidepressant that alters serotonin activity, contraindicated within $14\text{ days}$ of MAOIs and associated with drowsiness, hypotension, dry mouth, suicidal thoughts, and QT prolongation.

Lorazepam

A first-line benzodiazepine that depresses the central nervous system and potentiates GABA, administered orally for anxiety disorders and intravenously for status epilepticus.

Analgesic

A class of drugs that relieves pain without causing loss of consciousness.

Hydromorphone (Dilaudid)

A potent opioid agonist used for moderate to severe pain that rapidly crosses the blood-brain barrier and is $5$ times more potent than morphine ($1\text{ mg}$ hydromorphone = $5\text{ mg}$ morphine).

Buprenorphine

A Schedule III partial opioid agonist used for opioid use disorder and pain that exhibits a ceiling effect on respiratory depression and carries a risk of liver toxicity.

Naloxone (Narcan)

An opioid antagonist administered IV or intranasally for the emergency reversal of life-threatening opioid overdose toxicity presenting with respiratory depression, pinpoint pupils (miosis), and coma.

Patient-Controlled Analgesia (PCA) Safety Rule

A critical safety guideline mandating that only the patient is permitted to press the administration button to deliver a dose.

Acetaminophen

A non-opioid, non-NSAID antipyretic and analgesic for mild-to-moderate pain and fever with a maximum daily dose of $3000\text{ mg}$; contraindicated in liver failure due to the risk of severe hepatotoxicity.

Acetylcysteine

The specific antidote for acetaminophen overdose that halts toxic hepatic metabolite production; has a characteristic rotten egg (sulfur) odor and should ideally be administered within $8\text{ hours}$ of ingestion.

Betaxolol

A beta-1 selective adrenergic blocking ophthalmic drug used to treat glaucoma, recognized as the safest beta-blocker option for patients with asthma and COPD.

Echothiophate

A cholinesterase inhibitor ophthalmic solution dosed 1 drop twice daily for open-angle glaucoma that acts by inducing miosis and decreasing intraocular pressure (IOP).

Combigan

A combination ophthalmic solution composed of brimonidine tartrate $0.2\text{\%}$ (alpha-2 agonist) and timolol maleate $0.5\text{\%}$ (beta blocker), dosed 1 drop every $12\text{ hours}$.

Phenylephrine (Ophthalmic)

An adrenergic agonist mydriatic eye drop that causes pupil dilation without cycloplegia for eye examinations and intraocular surgeries.

Tamsulosin

An alpha-adrenergic blocker taken orally $30\text{ minutes}$ after a meal that relaxes and dilates vasculature around the prostate to relieve impaired urinary flow in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and kidney stones.

Prazosin

A prototype alpha-adrenergic blocker approved exclusively for hypertension, featuring a short peak onset and half-life.

Esmolol

A very short-acting intravenous second-generation beta blocker with a duration of $1\text{ to }20\text{ minutes}$, indicated for emergent management of supraventricular tachycardia and abnormal heart rhythms.

Atenolol

An oral second-generation beta blocker whose potential adverse cardiovascular effects include the development of pulmonary edema.