Pharmaceuticals General Knowledge

General categories, functions, naming of pharmaceuticals

Function: Adrenergics

Constrict blood vessels and stimulate the heart

Many drugs in the Adrenergic category are used in what situations?

• cardio-vascular

• respiratory

• allergic emergencies

List: Adrenergic drugs

• dopamine (Intropin)

• epinephrine (Adrenalin chloride)

• isoproterenol (Isuprel)

What Adrenergics are found on the emergency drug cart?

• dopamine (Intropin)

• isoproterenol (Isuprel)

Function: Anesthetics

• Prevents patients from feeling pain during procedures

• Promotes loss of feeling or sensation

What are the two types of anesthetics?

General and local

List: Anesthetic dugs

General 

• Nitrous oxide [only has trade name]

Local

• lignocaine (Lidocaine)

• lidocaine hydrochloride (Xylocaine)

  • also an antiarrhythmic drug

What anesthetics are found on the emergency drug cart?

lidocaine hydrochloride (Xylocaine)

Function: Antianxiety drugs

Benzodiazepines

• Treatment of anxiety

• In some cases to treat behavioural disorders

List: antianiety drugs

• lorazepam (Ativan)

• diazepam (Valium)

What antianxiety drugs are found on the emergency drug cart?

diazepam (Valium)

Function: anticoagulants

• Prevent thrombus formation prior to surgical and imaging procedures

• also used to prevent extension of thrombi after myocardial infarction, strokes, pulmonary embolism, and venous thrombosis 

List: anticoagulants

• heparin sodium (Heparin)

• warfarin sodium (Coumadin)

What anticoagulants are found on the emergency drug cart?

none

Function: antidepressants

• major depressive disorders

• some anxiety disorders

• some chronic pain conditions to help manage some addictions

List: antidepressants

sertaline (Zoloft)

(only one on the supplement)

What antidepressants are found on the emergency drug cart?

none

Function: antidiabetic drugs

• management of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes

• stabilizes and controls blood glucose levels 

List: antidiabetic drugs

• insulin (Various trade names)

• metformin (Glucophage)

What antidiabetic drugs are found on the emergency drug cart?

none

Function: antihistamine

Treat anaphylactic shock, upper respiratory disorders, acute urticaria, edema, hypersensitivity reactions, motion sickness, and nausea

List: antihistamines

• diphenhydramine (Benadryl)

• clorpheniramine (Chlor-trimeton)

What antihistamines are found on the emergency drug cart?

diphenhydramine (Benadryl)

Function: anticholinergics

Block the action of a neurotransmitter that causes involuntary movement associated with certain diseases such as Parkinson’s

List: anticholinergics

atropine sulfate (Atropine)

[only one listed on the supplement]

Function: antiperistaltic

reduce gastric motility

List: antiperistaltic 

glucagon (GlucaGen)

What antriperistaltic drugs are found on the emergency drug cart?

none

Function: betablockers

AKA Adrenergic blocking agents

• increase peripheral circulation (opens veins and improves blood flow)

• decrease blood pressure

List: betablockers

propranolol (Inderal)

[only one listed on the suppl]

What betablockers are found on the emergency drug cart?

propranolol (Inderal)

Function: bronchodilators

Used to treat wide range of respiratory problems

[we are studying only those used to treat severe disorders seen by the radiographer in practice]

List: bronchodilators

• epinephrine (Adrenalin)

• theophylline (Theo-Dur)

What bronchodilators are found on the emergency drug cart?

epinephrine (Adrenalin)

Function: cathartic drugs

Increase passage and motility of feces

• treat constipation

• causes bowel evacuation by increasing peristalsis

List: cathartic drugs

• senna (Senekot)

• bisacodyl (Dulocolax)

  • Colyte

  • GoLYETLY

  • Pico-salax

What cathartic drugs are found on the emergency drug cart?

none

Function: contrast agents

• better visualize organ/system of interest against surrounding areas

• intravascular contrast media used to add density to vascular structures of an organ

List: ionic (high osmolality) contrast agents

• Cysto-Conray II

• Gastografin

• Telebrix

List: nonionic (low osmolality) contrast agents

• Optiray

• Isovue

• Omnipaque

List: nonionic (very low osmolality) contrast agents

Visipaque

What contrast agents are found on the emergency drug cart?

none

Function: diuretics

help rid body of sodium and water

• kidneys release the sodium into urine

• sodium helps remove water from blood

List: diuretics

furosemide (Lasix)

What diuretics are found on the emergency drug cart?

none

Function: fluid and electrolytes

IV replacement of fluid, electrolytes, and nutrients is part of medical care for patients treated in acute care hospitals

List: fluids

5% dextrose in water

0.9% NaCL (normal saline)

List: electrolytes

• Sodium (NA+)

• Magnesium (Mg²+)

• Chloride (Cl)

• Bicarbonate (HCO₃)

• Phosphate (PO₄)

What fluids/electrolytes are found on the emergency drug cart?

Bicarbonate (HCO₃)

Function: Glucocorticoid

AKA corticosteroids

• as replacement therapy in diseases of the adrenal glands

• for relief of inflammatory symptoms

• for severe allergic reactions

• for relief of stress caused by trauma or other stress reactions

Function: NSAIDs

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory

AKA analgesics and anti-inflammatory

used to reduce:

• pain

• fever

• inflammation in tissues

List: Glucocorticoids

• hydrocortisone (Cortef)

• cortisone (Cortone)

• methylprednisolone (Medrol)

• dexamethasone (Decadron)

List: NSAIDs

• ibuprofen analgesic drugs (Motrin, Advil, etc.)

• acetylsalicylic acid (Aspirin)

• acetaminophen (Tylenol)

What glucocorticoids/NSAIDs are found on the emergency drug cart?

hydrocortisone (Cortef)

Function: hypoglycemic drugs

oral pharmaceuticals that treat Type 2 diabetes

List: hypoglycemic drugs

• glyburide (DiaBeta)

• metformin (Glucophage)

What hypoglycemic drugs are found on the emergency drug cart?

none

Function: narcotics

effect of control of pain ranges from mild to intense

List: mild to moderate efficacy narcotics

(used for less severe pain)

• codeine sulfate (Codeine)

• oxycodone (Percocet)

List: intense efficacy narcotics

(used to control intense pain and the anxiety that results)

• morphine sulfate (Morphine)

• merperidine (Demerol)

• hydrochloride fentanyl citrate (Duragesic)

What narcotics are found on the emergency drug cart?

none

Function: sedative

relaxing and calming effect by acting on the CNS

• used to treat anxiety and sometimes behaviour

List: sedative

• lorazepam (Ativan)

• diazepam (Valium)

• alprazolam (Xanax)

What sedatives are found on the emergency drug cart?

diazepam (Valium)

Function: tranquilizer drugs

reduce anxiety

List: tranquilizer drugs

• diazepam (Valium)

• lorazepam (Ativan)

• midazolam (Versed)

(all listed are minor tranquilizers)

What tranquilizer drugs are found on the emergency drug cart?

diazepam (Valium)

Function: vasodilators

prevents muscles in the walls of the arteries from narrowing

List: vasodilators

• nitroglycerin (Nitrostat)

• epinephrine (Adrenalin)

What vasodilators are found on the emergency drug cart?

none