Module 2a: Administering Drugs

What are RVTs not permitted to do?

• Prescribe drugs (need vet approval instruction before administering ANY drugs

List some roles of RVTs in pharmacology

• calculating doses

• preparing, measuring and administering medications

• monitoring reactions

• communicating with veterinarians and other RVTs and Clients

• Ordering and properly storing medications

• Documenting their use

• Double checking each other and catch mistakes

What does a syringe label require? (bare minimum)

• Patient Name

• Drug Name

Tips for reducing occurrence of errors

• Slow down

• Pay attention

• Double check- with other person

• Read label out loud

• Label everything

• Close loop communication

What are the 7 rights in drug administration?

• right patient

• right drug

• right concentration

• right dose

• right route

• right frequency

• right documentation

What information do clients need to be aware of concerning drug administration?

• the drug

• how much to five

• how to give it

• when to start

• how frequently to give it

• for how long

• common side effects and what they should do if they arise

• any special handling/safety procedures

• withdrawal times if a food producing animal

List some candidates for special attention when considering abnormal drug reactions (5)

• geriatrics

• neonates

• animals with multiple disease conditions

• immunosuppressed animals

• animals on multiple medications

List the three ways animals on multiple medications can have adverse reactions to drugs

• Medications that can neutralize each other

• Medications that can react with each other to produce harmful metabolites

• Medications that have a synergistic effect on each other

What is a therapeutic drug range?

The range of drug concentration in the blood plasma that produces the desired effect with minimal to no signs of toxicity

What is the onset of action (drug ranges)

When the drug achieves MEC (minimal effective concentration) in the plasma

What is the duration of action?

The length of time the drug produces the desired effect

What is toxic range?

When the drug surpasses the MTC (maximum tolerated concentration) and produces toxic signs in the patient

What is the subtherapeutic range?

When the drug concentration is below the MEC (minimum effective concentration)

What are 4 factors for drug ranges?

• route

• dose

• interval

• patient

List the 10 routes of administration

1. PO- by mouth

2. SQ- subcutaneous

3. IM- intramuscular

4. IV- Intravenus

5. TM- transmucosal

6. Transdermal

7. Rectal

8. Epidural

9. Intracardiac

10. Inhalation

Factors to consider when deciding on route of administration: (11)

• properties of the drug

• formations available

• how fast we want the onset

• how long the duration

• how frequently do we want to administer it

• may consider CRI

• is the drug irritating

• is there gastrointestinal pathology

• vomiting, motility issues, etc

• the behaviour of the animal

• may not be able to get IV in an aggressive dog

Parenteral vs enteral

Parenteral= Systemic effect- not by GI tract

Enteral - Systemic effect- by GI tract

Describe the steps oral medication must take to be effective (5)

• Release from form

• Transport across GI mucosa

• Pass through liver

• Enter circulation

• Reach site of action

What 4 things can effect oral drug administration

• food

• pathology of GI tract

• pH

• amount consumed

What are the two adverse effects of oral medication?

Vomiting/diarrhea

What class of animals is oral medication unreliable in?

Ruminants

Is the onset of oral medication slower or faster than IV, IM, or SQ

Slower

Is the duration of oral medication typically longer or shorter than IV, IM or SQ

Longer but depends on formula

What is important when choosing an insulin syringe

Using the correct syringe (u-40/u-100) to the correct insulin (u-40/u-100)

Subcutaneous flower or faster than IV,IM?

Slower

Which type of drug administration do you need to be cautious of volume given?

IM

What colour solution should make you question giving IV?

Cloudy or coloured solutions

What are the precautions with oral transmucosal administration

Absorption not swallowing

No eating or drinking for 10 mins to allow absorb

What kind of administration relatively the same as rectal?

Transmucosal

What must happen prior to intracardiac injection?

Heavy sedation/ anesthetization

Where should vaccines be administered in cats?

Limbs (distally as possible) or tails to avoid vaccine-associated sarcoma