Queensland Ambulance Service Drug Therapy Protocols

Vocabulary flashcards defining primary pharmacological agents, drug classes, and key medical concepts from the Queensland Ambulance Service Drug Therapy Protocols.

Water for injection

Sterilised water used to dissolve AND/OR dilute drugs for the purpose of IM, IV or IO administration.

Morphine

A narcotic analgesic that acts on the central nervous system by binding with opioid receptors, altering processes affecting pain perception and emotional response to pain.

Midazolam

A short-acting benzodiazepine CNS depressant that induces amnesia, anaesthesia, hypnosis and sedation by enhancing the action of the inhibitory neurotransmitter gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA).

Glucose gel

A hyperglycaemic pure glucose preparation that is absorbed quickly in the intestinal tract after ingestion, acting as the principal energy source for body cells, especially the brain.

Droperidol

An antipsychotic drug from the butyrophenone group that produces sedation.

Lewy Body Dementia

A specific classification of dementia caused by the degeneration and death of nerve cells in the brain, characterised by the presence of abnormal spherical structures called Lewy bodies inside nerve cells.

Sodium chloride 0.9%

An isotonic crystalloid solution that acts as a vehicle for many parenteral drugs and as an electrolyte replenisher for maintenance or replacement of fluid deficits.

PHIFTEEN B formula

A formula used by QAS in adult burns management to identify the hourly parenteral fluid rate goal to be administered from the time of injury.

Sucrose 24%

An oral, sterile, liquid preparation used as a short-term analgesic in infants that causes an increase of endogenous opioids when placed on the tongue.

Olanzapine

A second-generation atypical antipsychotic that blocks dopamine D2 receptors, producing a sedative effect and improving psychotic symptoms.

Naloxone

An opioid antagonist that prevents or reverses the effects of opioids (including respiratory depression, sedation and hypotension) by competing for the same receptor sites.

Hydrocortisone

An adrenocorticoid corticosteroid with multiple mechanisms of action including anti-inflammatory activity, immunosuppressive properties and anti-proliferative actions.

Glucose 10%

A hyperglycaemic sugar solution that serves as the principal energy source for body cells, especially the brain, and is the preferred IV/IO treatment for hypoglycaemia when patients are unable to take oral glucose.

Ondansetron

A serotonin 5-HT3 receptor antagonist anti-emetic that works by blocking the action of serotonin to prevent or treat significant nausea AND/OR vomiting.

Glucagon

A hyperglycaemic agent that mobilises hepatic glycogen into blood glucose and exerts inotropic and chronotropic effects not mediated through beta-receptors.

Fentanyl

A synthetic narcotic analgesic that acts on the central nervous system by binding with opioid receptors.

Morphine Milligram Equivalent

A dose conversion metric used in combined narcotic therapy where $100\text{ microg}$ fentanyl is equal to $10\text{ mg}$ MME.

Paracetamol

A ρ-aminophenol derivative exhibiting analgesic and antipyretic activity without possessing significant anti-inflammatory activity.

Ibuprofen

A non-selective non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that inhibits prostaglandin synthesis, producing analgesic, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory actions.